Unknown gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers on Monday raided Mashema village in Bungudu Local Government area of Zamfara State, killing at least 20 people and injuring several others.
According to an eye-witness, the cattle rustlers stormed the village in the early hours of Monday and began to shoot everyone on sight.
He said they could hear the gunmen who appeared in large numbers chanting “we will drive away the cows by all means”.
He explained that it was by divine intervention that they decided to leave after killing 20 members of the community, adding, “otherwise, the number of casualties would have been more alarming due to the absence of security”.
Confirming the incident, the member of the House of Representatives representing the constituency, Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu, said the incident was the worst occurrence in recent times, “after the ones in Birnin Magaji and Yargalma in Maru local government”.
He said he was deeply disturbed by the situation in which so many innocent people were mercilessly massacred by bloodthirsty miscreants who lack human feelings.
Commenting on the incident, the state commissioner of police, Mr. Olufemi David said he has drafted officers and men of the command to bring normalcy to the area and ensure adequate security for the community.
-Leadership