18 killed in Zamfara, Plateau attacks

Barely one week after the killing of 26 people in Gidangoga District, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, gunmen have again hit another village in the North-West state, killing 15 people.
The Public Relations officer of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Muhammad Shehu, said on Saturday in Gusau that the bandits killed the people in a village called Zakuna, Anka Local Government Area.
The beleaguered state has seen repeated attacks in recent times that have left scores dead.
Shehu said that the attackers invaded Zakuna in the early hour of June 1 and stole cows belonging to villagers.
According to him, a vigilance group known as Yansakai challenged the rustlers, forcing them to flee only for the bandits to reinforce and attack the village, killing 15 people.
“On receiving the reports of the attack, the police mobilised to the village and discovered 15  bodies,  majority of whom were Yansakai.
“The police have, however, deployed heavy security to the area to maintain peace and stability.
“Bush combing and rigorous patrol is being carried out throughout the area by the police to avoid further loss of lives.”
Shehu said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kenneth Ebrimson, had ordered discreet investigation on the latest incident to catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
He pleaded with communities in the state not to relent in providing information to security operatives to end the deadly attacks in the state.
In a related development, the Police has confirmed the attack on Saturday of Kura Falls community in Gashish District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State and killing of three persons by unknown gunmen.
ASP Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the North-Central state, confirmed the incident on Saturday in Jos, the state capital.
According to him, the attacks occurred on Friday night and Saturday morning.
“We received information this morning about 7 a.m. that residents of Kura Falls were attacked about 9:30 p.m. in the early hours of Saturday by unknown gunmen.
“This resulted in the death of three persons identified as Dawala Bullet, 30; Fidelis Richard, 31; and Iliya Doro, 60.
“We have mobilised to the area to ensure normalcy and quell any further attack and breach of the law,” Tyopev said.
The PPRO said investigations were ongoing to track and arrest the perpetrators “who must be made to face justice”.