Image copyright AFP Image caption Vigilante groups and cattle rustlers have led to a number of clashes in Zamfara State

Gunmen have attacked a cinema in Nigeria's north-western Zamfara State, killing 11 people and injuring more than 20, witnesses and hospital sources told the BBC.

The suspected armed bandits opened fire at a village hall, where residents gather at night to watch films.

The cinema-goers panicked, many escaped with multiple gunshot wounds or broken bones, according to witnesses.

Amnesty International has warned about the escalating violence in the area.

It is not clear why the cinema was targeted, but villages in Zamfara State have come under heavy attack from armed bandits in recent months.

Witnesses say the attackers arrived in the village of Badarawa on foot on 12 September before heading to the hall, known as a viewing centre.

Hospital sources says some of the victims' injuries are life-threatening, while the dead have already been buried.

The police say security personnel have been deployed to track down the assailants.

Nearly 400 people have been killed in the state this year amid an increase in robbery, killings, and kidnappings for ransom, according to the rights group Amnesty.</s>Eleven persons have been confirmed killed during an attack on a viewing centre in Zamfara State in the early hours of Thursday.

Viewing centres are private places were people gather to watch sports, movies and others after paying a little sum of money. They are common across Nigeria.

Although the police said six corpses were recovered, spokesperson to the state governor, Ibrahim Dosara, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that 11 persons died.

”Eleven (persons were) killed and 21 wounded in (the incident at) Badarawa in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State,” Mr Dosara said.

“Investigation revealed that it was bandits that did the killings. More investigations are going on,” he said.

”The wounded have been taken to the Shinkafi General Hospital this morning, the victims have been hospitalised and committees from the villages where the incident happened are around to support the families of those who were wounded,” Mr Dosara said.

Confirming the incident, however, the police said six persons were killed in the attack and 10 others injured.

Police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the attack in a statement, said upon receiving a distress call from the area, police and military officers were mobilised to the area.

According to him, the officers engaged the bandits and forced them to flee into the forest.

“On 13th September, 2018 at about 0015hrs, the Command received a distress call of an ongoing attack at a Badarawa Village Square in Shinkafi LGA.

“Simultaneously, our tactical teams comprising PMF/CTU in conjunction with the military mobilised to the scene and engaged the bandits who fled into the forest.

“While profiling the scene and its environs, six (6) corpses were discovered and ten (10) injured persons who were bleeding profusely were rushed to the hospital for stabilisation.

“Preliminary investigation has disclosed the footpath of the bandits which has been subjected to extensive bush combing, that will lead to the arrest of the culprits.

“Meanwhile, there is an established tactical pin down point at entrance and exit of the community.”

He vowed the police will fish out the attackers.

Zamfara has witnessed the killing of hundreds of people in the past year by armed bandits. Although the killings have reduced since a large military offensive, mainly by the army and air force, was deployed in the state; Thursday’s incident shows the bandits are still able to attack at will.</s>Gunmen have attacked a cinema in Nigeria’s north-western Zamfara State, killing 11 people and injuring ...Read more via Olisa.tv – https://ift.tt/2xeavpZ Get More Nigeria Metro News</s>Senator Kabiru Marafa, (APC – Zamfara Central) has called for the resignation of Gov. Abudulaziz Yari of Zamfara, over his recent comments on security situation in the state.

Yari had at a special Town Hall meeting on security in Gusau, Zamfara capital, on Monday claimed that insecurity in the state has led to the loss of at least 2,300 people from 2011 till date.

Reacting, Marafa said Yari should have resigned his appointment as the governor since he could no longer oversee the security of the state.

Marafa, who spoke with State House correspondents on Friday, said he was in the Presidential Villa to offer useful clues to President Muhammadu Buhari on way out the lingering security problem in the State.

He said he also intimated the president on the latest development with regards to the crisis that emanated from the All Progressives Congress (APC) congress in the state.

Yari had recently said he had dropped his responsibility as Chief Security Officer of the state as he had no control over security machinery in the state.

Marafa, however, said that the governor ought to have given up his seat alongside that of the Chief Security Officer of the state, adding that Yari deserved impeachment.

He said that the number one culprit was the state House of Assembly because as it ought to have initiated impeachment proceedings on the governor over the comment.

“The media ought to be blamed also; when problems happen in other states, it tends to be over blown, but when it happens in some other states, nobody cares.

“Nigeria is supposed to be seen as our country; for a chief executive to come out publicly to say that he has resigned as the chief security officer of that state, he or she is supposed to accomplish that statement with his resignation.

“You cannot be spending state funds and security funds but lives and property, you are responsible to protect are in danger.

“The number one essence of government is protection of lives and property; any person that cannot protect the lives and property of the people he superintends, he or she is not supposed to be on that seat even if he is your chairman.

“I do not have to call on him to resign; this is something every Nigerian is supposed to say.”

“If he has conscience and he knows what leadership is all about; and he takes the teachings of Islam very seriously; he would have resigned instead as governor instead of saying he resigned as chief security officer,’’ he said.

The lawmaker stated that it was wrong for Yari to be Zamfara State Governor only in resources but when it came to protection of lives and property, he shirked responsibility and passed the buck to President Buhari.

Marafa said that Yari had unfettered access to the president and wondered why he had not been telling the president the truth.

On the crisis confronting APC in Zamfara, Marafa said he is not planning to quit the party, hence his decision to seek redress from the court.

“Today the court gave an order restraining all the parties from parading themselves as leaders of APC in Zamfara State pending the determination of the case,’’ he said.</s>Zamfara Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, has cautioned youths in the state against any form of violence before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

Wakkala, who is a gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), gave the advice while addressing his supporters from the 14 local government areas of the state at his residents in Gusau on Thursday.

He urged youths to shun any form of violence, thuggery and avoid anything that will disturb peace and stability in the society in the name of politics.

“We should cooperate and work together for the development of Zamfara State; we should not be allowed to be used for political violence and thuggery.

“You know the situation we are facing in Zamfara today, we should continue with prayers and seek Allah’s intervention to the security challenges we are facing.

“I thank you for the support, you gave to me, and Insha Allah I will work on the mandate you gave to me. I will continue to stand for you.

Read Also: Over 3,000 repentant bandits surrender weapons in Zamfara, says deputy governor

“I am happy with the kind of trust, solidarity, support and encouragement you are giving to me, and I am giving you assurance that we will continue to work together”, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the deputy governor has failed to secure the support of Gov. Abdulaziz Yari and APC leadership in the state who are backing another aspirant for the position.

The governor and the state APC leadership have claimed that the party stakeholders had since endorsed the state Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu-Idris, as the party’s governorship candidate.

The deputy governor and other aspirants had since kicked against the decision, saying there was no consensus on who becomes the governorship candidate of the APC in the state.</s>The police in Zamfara have confirmed that bandits attacked and killed six persons in the early hours of Wednesday in Badarawa village of Shinkafi Local Government area of Zamfara.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Mohammed Shehu, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Gusau on Thursday.

He said that the police received a distress call from the village at about 12.15am and quickly mobilized security to the area.

He said that a combined team of the police and soldiers on operation in the area, moved in immediately.

He, however, said that due to the bad terrain of the area, the bandits had fled before the arrival of the police.

“Unfortunately, I can confirm to you that six persons were killed while 10 others were injured and both the dead and the injured were taken to the hospital.”

The police image maker said that those killed were identified as members of the affected community.

At the moment, he said, the patrol team was combing the affected area to arrest the bandits and appealed to members of the community and its environs to inform the nearest security post of any suspicious movement.

NAN, however, reports that when the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, visited the village on a condolence visit, members of the community said 11 were killed and 24 were injured and hospitalized.</s>Bandits have killed 11 persons in Badarawa village of Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

THISDAY gathered that the bandits stormed the village on Wednesday night and opened fire on the residents leading to pandemonium in the area.

It was also gathered that at least 10 youths were injured during the incidence.

A resident of the village, Malam Bashir Badarawa, told journalists that the bandits numbering about 16 invaded the community and opened fire on the residents.

He stated that as a result of the attack, many people were living in fear while some had already fled the community.

“Our people are living in fear and many have already deserted the community. We don’t know why these bandits attacked us,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Command and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the

incident to THISDAY yesterday, said six persons lost their lives during the attack while 10 were injured.

He disclosed that a combined team of policemen and soldiers were mobilised to the area as soon as the incident occurred.

“As you are aware, we got information that Badarawa village was under siege by bandits after midnight and a combined team of Police and soldiers were mobilised to the area.

“However, on reaching the village, it was discovered that the bandits had fled the area. We are currently on the trail of the foot path of the bandits and also combing the forest with a view to apprehending them,”he said.

The PPRO further said the injured persons had been taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

He added that the victims of the attack had already been buried in accordance with Islamic rites in the area.

Shehu appealed to residents of the community to remain calm, saying the police was currently conducting fear -reduction patrol in the affected communities and the environs.</s>Shinkafi (Zamfara) – The Zamfara government on Friday sent a five-man delegation to Badarawa Community in the Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state, to commiserate with the community on the latest bandit attacks in the town.

 

 On Sept. 12, gunmen unleashed another deadly attack on Badarawa community, killing 11 people and wounding 24 others.

Zamafara has been at the receiving end of a ruinous banditry in recent times that has left 3,000 people dead and displaced thousands, according to the State Government.

The leader of the delegation, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, described the killing as unfortunate and disheartening.

“It is regrettable that Zamfara State, which was known to be one of the most peaceful states in the country is witnessing this kind of banditry.’’

Rikiji, who is also the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.

“We should embark on prayers. We should use our daily prayers and seek Allah’s intervention to end this security challenges.

“We should also assist security agencies with useful information and expose any suspicious person or movement among you,” he added.

The District Head of Badarawa Community, Alhaji Sirajo Ibrahim, thanked the State Government for the visit, pleading with the government to provide adequate security in the area.

The delegation comprised the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Alhaji Bello Dankande, Chairman of the state assembly committee on finance and appropriation.

Others are Aliyu Ango-Kagara, Secretary of the state’s Damage Assessment and Relief Committee and Alhaji Ibrahim-Sulaiman Wamban-Anka.

The delegation also visited the injured at General Hospital Shinkafi and Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau. (NAN)</s>Senator Kabir Marafa of Zamfara State on Friday again took the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, to the cleaners.

According to him, Yari is a two faced governor who praises President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja and abuses him in Zamfara State.

He spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Asked his reaction to Yari’s threat that he was going to resign as the chief security officer of his state due to increased insecurity, Marafa said “I heap a lot of blame on you the media the way and manner you handled it and number one culprit is the state house of Assembly.

“If I was a member of the State House of Assembly I would have initiated impeachment of the governor because he lacks conscience, then the media ought to have done much more than what they did.

“This is part of the problem we have as a people, when problems happen in other states they tend to be overblown but when they happen in another state nobody cares and Nigeria is supposed to be seen as one country.

“For a chief executive to come out publicly to say that he has resigned as the chief security officer of a state he or she is supposed to accompany that statement with a resignation,” he said.

Marafa added “You cannot be spending state funds on security and lives and property are not safe, number one responsibility of any government is protection of lives and property any person that cannot protect the lives of people he superintends he or she is supposed to resign.

“I don’t have to call on him to resign, this is something that every Nigerian is supposed to say and he himself if he has conscience and he knows what leadership is all about and he is quite knowledgeable in Islamic and if he took the teachings of Islam very seriously he would have resigned in the real essence of the word rather than making mere pronouncements that he has resigned as chief security officer.

“You only take the sunny side of government but the ugly side you say you are not responsible. When it comes to the money of Zamfara state he is the governor of Zamfara state, when it comes to the protection of lives of the people of the state then it is President Muhammadu Buhari that is responsible and the worst thing that I always say is that this is the first person that has unfettered access to the President.

“Now have you been telling the president the truth, this is where the challenge lies, when he comes here he tells you that the president is doing very well, when he goes back to the state he says security is not his responsibility but that of the President and he didn’t do it,” he stated.</s>The Federal Government has reaffirmed its belief that the conflicts across the country that have resulted in killings are in no way connected to ethnicity or religious differences.Information Minister, Allhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this at the Special town hall meeting which held in Gusau, Zamfara State.

Ministers and other top government officials arrive this venue in Gusau, Zamfara State, for a Special town hall meeting, to address issues that have resulted in the random killings of innocent citizens across the country.

The random killings across the country especially in the North eastern part of Nigeria remain an ugly mark in the record of this administration and have resulted in serious security challenges , as well as the disruption of Peace and development of the Nation’s Economy.

Zamfara State is one of many states bedeviled by this ugly trend as there remain a sizable number of armed bandits across the State, who carry out rampant attacks on innocent citizens almost on a daily basis.

The Zamfara State Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, says the security situation in his State should be viewed as sheer Criminality and must be handled as such.

Government officials recount the efforts made by the Federal Government to curb this deadly menace and suggest ways to curb these killings, and maintain peace and security in the State.

The floor was later thrown open for participants to air their views and also make extensive contributions on tackling this recurring crisis.

Delegates believe that this special meeting is timely and will help to improve the security situation in the State, and also across the country.
Bandits open fire at a village hall, where residents gather at night to watch films, in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Eleven people are killed and many more are injured.