Bandits attack Defence Minister’s hometown, kill 2, abduct scores

Bandits have reportedly invaded the hometown of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, Maradun town in Zamfara state.

The bandits attacked the town in the early hours of Friday, killing two persons and abducting about 30 others.

An indigene of the area, Faruku Shehu, said the bandits stormed the town early hours of Friday shooting sporadically and ransacking houses.

Shehu said although the number of the abducted persons was yet to be ascertained, the bandits could have abducted 30 persons.

Shehu whose house was among the houses ransacked by the bandits, expressed dismay over the high level of insecurity in the town.

Another resident of the town, Hassan Ibrahim, said the bandits stationed at different locations with sophisticated weapons.

“When I heard their movement close to my door, I crossed over to a nearby wall and ran for my dear life and luckily escaped but overheard them saying that we have all hidden,” he added.

He stressed the need for the Minister of State for Defence, who is the immediate-past governor of Zamfara State, to intervene in the security situation of his country home to avert further attacks.
A traditional ruler, whose house was raided by the bandits, expressed displeasure over the high level of insecurity in the town.

“It was to my hearing that the bandits burgled my parlour’s door, coming towards my inner room, I managed to hide while my wives and children followed another passage and ran away to hide somewhere,” he narrated.

The traditional ruler, who preferred to be anonymous, expressed concern over the rampant attacks on the town, saying there was a similar attack on the town last Friday.