Vigilante Leader, 24 Others Killed By Bandits In Zamfara

Three separate attacks by bandits in Zamfara State’s Kanoma district’s Maru Local Government Area resulted in the deaths of 25 persons on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

Residents informed Daily Trust that the armed men had earlier ambushed Dahiru Dangamji, a well-known vigilante leader in Kanoma, and three of his lieutenants in a forest 5 kilometers south of the town, where they were shot to death.

Ibrahim Aliyu, a local, claimed that the vigilante leader and some of his senior men had been the target of the armed men for a significant period of time.

“The news of the killing of the vigilante leader filtered into the community. Shortly afterwards, dozens of armed vigilantes mobilised and headed to the forest to confront the armed criminals and avenge the killing of their leader,” he said.

“But the gunmen who were informed that the vigilantes were coming into the forest laid an ambush and shot dead 16 of them. However, casualties were also recorded on the part of the armed men. Reports said more than ten of them were killed. But, this cannot be independently verified.

“The armed criminals thereafter moved to a goldmine near the Danzara community and shot dead five artisanal miners. The bodies of the slain miners and the vigilantes are being scooped from the forest for burial.

“As I’m talking to you there is a tense security climate in Kanoma community as armed men were spotted approaching the town apparently for attack. We are calling on the security operatives to expedite action against them,” Ibrahim said.