Bandits have abducted 17 people, including women and children, in Ruwan Dorawa village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A police source who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, said the attack took place at midnight on Sunday, November 19, adding that the hoodlums also killed a police officer.
Sunday’s incident was described by many residents as a well-coordinated operation that the bandits had previously carried out in the state.
The armed bandits, numbering around 150, invaded the village on 50 motorbikes, each bike carrying three people. The operation is suspected to be led by popular bandit boss Dan Nagala.
Upon arriving at the village, the bandits would have divided into five groups. Three groups were stationed at strategic entrances to the village, while the remaining two entered the village and abducted the villagers.
It was also gathered that unlike previous operations carried out in some parts of the state, the bandits this time applied a unique method of operation.
Although the bandits were armed and spent four hours operating in the village, the operation was conducted silently as no shots were fired to scare the residents.
A resident, who yearned for anonymity for fear of being victimized, said that during the four-hour operation, the bandits fired just a single shot which claimed the life of a police officer.
The resident said that even though the community had prior knowledge of the bandits’ arrival since Friday, this did not prevent them from carrying out their mission, as, according to him, all plans drawn up to prevent the attack were frustrated.
He said the community managed to mobilize members of a vigilante group to ambush the bandits on their way to Ruwan Dorawa, but the plan was unsuccessful.
“The vigilante members hid at a certain location along Ruwan Dorawa-Kanoma road to ambush the bandits, but they spent the entire night there and the bandits did not appear. We suspect that the bandits also got wind of our plan and therefore changed theirs.
“Then, on Sunday, at 12pm, the bandits invaded the village and carried out their evil operation. When they arrived, they divided into five groups. it can come from outside.
“Even the two groups that entered the village, from what I understand, have specific targets to attack. I believe it is the work of their informants. After the bandits entered the village, one group went straight to the residence of Alhaji Saleh Mai Buhu Ruwan Dorawa and the other to the house of the Village Chief, Marafa Kabiru Makau.
“The group spent about two hours trying to gain access to Saleh’s house before moving to Babangida Kafinta’s residence and later to Alhaji Bakwai’s house.
“They tied Babangida Kafinta with a rope and dragged him out of the house, but they realized that he was sick, so they untied him but kidnapped his two children. From there, they moved to Alhaji Bakwai’s house and kidnapped his two grandchildren.”
“The other group that went to the house of the Village Chief, Marafa Kabiru Makau, was not so lucky to be targeted, as they managed to escape while the bandits tried to enter the house.
“After Marafa’s house, the bandits, on their way to the next house, found three police officers sitting on a bench in front of the police station next to Marafa’s residence and upon seeing them they opened fire on them, killing one of them in the to see,”
According to another resident, from there the bandits went to the residence of a commercial driver popularly known as Bago and kidnapped his two wives including a one-day bride. The resident explained that the bandits ended their 4-hour operation at the residence of a resident known as Dan Malam, where they kidnapped seven people.
“The bandits searched every room in the house looking for people to kidnap. They managed to kidnap seven people.
“Although this is the third time that bandits have attacked this village, we have never seen this kind of smooth and silent operation. I can safely say that many residents became aware of the operation after the criminals fired the shot that killed the police officer. They spent hours operating silently while residents slept
“During previous attacks, the bandits fired sporadic shots into the air to scare sleeping residents before abducting their victims, but this time, they only fired a single shot. Indeed, this is a terrible development. Banditry, I can say , is now taking on a new and dangerous dimension. And if this continues, only God knows where this problem will lead us.
“The issue is that if bandits continue to use this silent method of operation, many communities will suffer more at their hands because residents will be unable to put up any resistance whenever they are under attack. ‘ and it helped a lot, but with the advent of this type of operation, the bandits can act for several hours without resistance from the residents.
“Villages such as Ruwan Dorawa, Kanoma and Sado, among others, which share borders with a dense forest that connected Maru to several towns and villages such as Anka, Dansadau in Zamfara State and Birnin-Gwari and Zuru in Kaduna and Kebbi States respectively , will continue to be in serious danger, not least because they are easy targets for bandits. Bandits can easily invade villages, kidnap and take their victims to the forest without being challenged.
“Another factor that gives bandits the opportunity to carry out their diabolical acts in the Maru axis, according to residents, is the increase in local mining activities.
According to a resident, who also does not want his name published, the criminals are also aware of all the businesses that take place in the area and, therefore, are aware of the money that circulates among the population.
“The bandits are fully aware of all the business going on in neighboring villages. They know who got what among the residents and whenever money changes hands, they know and will keep track of who is involved.
“Take Mutunji village for example. It is a village that is agriculturally blessed. The community planted a large amount of crops this year but the bandits imposed a tax of N200 million on the farmers. They said the farmers must pay the money before harvesting your crops.
“Again, the village was endowed with enormous mineral resources. Therefore, mining activities are also taking place in this village and the bandits are aware of what the local miners are getting. resources available in the area, they will accompany you. They will kidnap the miner himself or any of his relatives and ensure that a handsome ransom is collected before releasing whoever is kidnapped. This is the situation we find ourselves in. ”
Residents said that until the moment this report was filed, the bandits had not called relatives of the kidnapped people to demand ransom.
However, a police source said a team of police officers attached to the Maru Police Divisional Office was sent to Ruwan Dorawa on Monday to recover the dead body of the slain police officer.
“Our people were at Ruwan Dorawa village on Monday and brought the police officer’s dead body to Maru Police Division. I am sure the body was handed over to the family of the deceased for a dignified burial,” the source added.
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com