Bandits on Wednesday attacked Gada community in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing the district head, Alhaji Umaru Bawan-Allah, his two sons and three other residents.
Sources said they also abducted several others.
Gada community is about seven kilometres from Bungudu, the local government headquarters.
Ibrahim Dosara, Commissioner for Information, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits also razed the district head’s home.
“The security agencies, including the Nigerian Air Force are currently on the trail of the bandits,” Dosara stated.
A source said the assailants invaded the area in the early hours of Wednesday and unleashed mayhem on residents.
Residents said dozens of armed men stormed the community about 1a.m and went house to house, picking identified targets and shooting them dead.
The criminals also abducted unspecified number of people, including women and children, who were mostly captured when they were trying to escape.
“However, with the combined efforts of the local vigilantes and the security operatives the abducted residents were rescued.
“The armed men were intercepted at a spot near Karakkai community. The security operatives mobilised and the local vigilantes helped to block their passage.
“After a heavy gunfight, the armed criminals abandoned the abducted victims probably because they were out gunned and outnumbered,” a resident identified as Aliyu said.
