There was pandemonium in Damba area of Gusau town, the capital of Zamfara State, as bandits killed three policemen on duty in the very early hours of Saturday morning.
An eye witness who gave his name as Mohammed Sani told Arewa PUNCH that the bandits who came in large groups and rode on several motorcycles arrived Damba area around 1 o’clock am early Saturday morning, and they headed to the location where the security agents were stationed for night duty.
According to Sani, immediately the bandits arrived at the location where the security men were stationed, they opened fire indiscriminately and sporadically, killing three policemen on the spot.
He further narrated that heavy gunshot sounds and exchange of fire power between the bandits and the security agents lasted several minutes before the three policemen gave up the ghost.
He said, “I was about to go to bed when suddenly I heard several gunshots very close to my house.
“I tried to call the phone number of the military in Gusau to tell them the situation in our area but unfortunately the line was not connecting.
“I also called the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Damba Police Station who arrived at the scene in good time with additional policemen.
“Unfortunately, however, the bandits had fled to their hideout before the arrival of the additional reinforcement,” Sani further disclosed.
He maintained that residents of the area panicked over what was happening, just as they were terribly scared, following the cacophony of the sound of gun shots that rented the air and the volley of flying bullets which sent the residents scampering for safety.
The witness stressed, “Most of the residents of the area could not sleep again due to the rude shock of the heavy gunshot sounds, as the bandits invaded the area, shooting at random to scare those that might want to come for help.”
All efforts to get comments from the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar proved unsuccessful as he could not be reached on phone.
Meanwhile, more residents of the area who spoke to our correspondent appealed to both the state and the federal government to take proactive measures to stop the persistent attacks by bandits.
One of the residents, Alhaji Shibkau Mudi disclosed that several people had been kidnapped by bandits from the area despite its proximity to Gusau Government House.
“Many important personalities were abducted in this area but were able to regain freedom after payment of large sums of money.
“Now that the security agents have been deployed here, the bandits are trying to scare them away so that they will continue abducting us for ransom.
“I am appealing to both the state and the federal government to consider bringing additional security agents to the area.
“Most of us here are civil servants and businessmen. Except the security situation is given more attention, many of us would be left with no option but to vacate to other places for fear of the unknown,” Mudu said.
Investigations by Arewa PUNCH indicated that many residents of the area have relocated to other places while others have since sold their houses and left the state.
Meanwhile, the state police commissioner, Ahmed Mohammed Bello who was at the Damba police station over the death of the three policemen expressed dismay over the lukewarm attitude of some police officers who do not take the dictates of their job seriously.
CP Bello explained that, he visited the duty post where the three policemen were killed some days before the incident, lamenting that, he met all of them sleeping.
He said, “Before the incident occurred, I visited the place where the three officers lost their lives and unfortunately, I met all of them sleeping.
“I want to categorically state here that, we will not condone this type of attitude, and henceforth, any officer who is found wanting would be dealt with accordingly.”