Bandits massacre 16 Civilian JTF, 13 others in Zamfara

Armed bandits have massacred 29 people, in including 16 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, JTF, in fresh Zamfara attack, the State Police Command has confirmed.

A statement issued by Mohammed Shehu, Police Public Relations Officer, Zamfara State Command on Saturday, confirmed the death of 29 persons, following an ambush by suspected armed bandits on a convoy of vehicles conveying traders from Shinkafi market on their way back to Kwari village in Shinkafi Local Government on  Thursday.

“On 28th February 2019 at about 2345hrs, DPO of Shinkafi received a distress call that on the same date at about 2130hrs, vehicles conveying traders from Shinkafi to Kwari village were ambushed by suspected armed bandits while coming back from Shinkafi Market.

“The DPO quickly responded by leading a Joint team of PMF/CTU and Military to the scene of the incident with a view to ascertaining the authenticity of the report and take action that will restore normalcy in the area and its environs and further arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“On getting to the scene, 13 corpses were found, while 16 other corpses mostly members of civilian JTF were later discovered littered as the surrounding bush was combed by the joint security operatives,” the statement said.

The police said normalcy had been restored in the area, following an improved deployment of Joint police and military personnel to the area to complement the existing security emplacement.

The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Celestine Okoye, as condoling with the government and people of Zamfara State over the unfortunate incident assured all residents of the state that and assured that the police would continue to collaborate and partner with other security agencies and all relevant stakeholder to ensure security, safety and peace of Zamfara state at all time.

“Members of the public are enjoined to continue to support the security Agencies in their efforts to rid the state of criminal elements,” he said in the statement.

- PM NEWS