The fight against armed bandits in Zamfara State took a new turn on Wednesday when residents of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area dared the hoodlums, cordoned their emir’s palace and killed seven bandits in a confrontation.
Newsmen reports that the armed bandits allegedly came to the emir’s palace for a peace talk after their cows were confiscated following an airstrike on their base in Birnin Magaji forest.
Residents disclosed that after an airstrike on Birnin Magaji forest on April 4, many residents of nearby communities accompanied the soldiers into the forest where they found over 200 rustled cows.
The cows were impounded and kept at the emir’s palace in Birnin Magaji from where they were moved to Gusau, the state capital.
Reports had it that on Wednesday, about seven suspected bandits and an official of the State Security Service (SSS) came to the emir’s palace where they reportedly pleaded for the release of their cattle.
The Emir of Birnin Magaji, Husseini Dan-Ali, was, however, said to be in Kaduna on Wednesday when they came. His secretary, Muhammadu Mai-inji, hosted the suspected bandits and SSS official inside the palace.
When residents learnt about the meeting, they hurriedly cordoned the palace and attempted to set it ablaze. Soldiers guarding the palace, however, pleaded with them.
The residents waited outside until the bandits came out, got hold of them and lynched them.
They also vandalized an SSS vehicle. The suspected SSS official was, however, rescued by soldiers, although he sustained severe injuries.
The police in Zamfara state have kept mum over the incident.
Recall that hundreds of people have been killed by the armed bandits who raid villages at will and also engage in kidnap for ransom in Zamfara state.
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