Seven police operatives and four civilians were brutally killed when bandits raided Magarya community in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara State.
The criminal elements also destroyed three cars, including one belonging to the district head of Magarya, who is also the brother of the former speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Mr Nasir Magarya.
According to a resident of the area, Ahmad Umar, Magarya Model Primary School was set ablaze, and many people sustained various degrees of injuries during the unfortunate raid.
At the time of filing this report, Zamfara State police command is yet to issue a statement in respect to the attack.
Though, this is coming after Police authorities in the State said a member of the State House of Assembly and a former local government chairman have been arrested for involvement in banditry.
Muhammad Dalijan, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State confirmed this on Wednesday.
He revealed this information during a meeting with the head of the Counterterrorism Unit at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Thomas Parker, who visited him at the command headquarters in Gusau, the state capital.
Meanwhile, the identities of the arrested individuals were not revealed, CP Dalijan stressed the need for a forensic laboratory in Zamfara to avoid the delays associated with conducting forensic analyses in Lagos.
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He appealed to the UN to replicate its support in Maiduguri by establishing similar facilities and providing training on investigation techniques in Zamfara.
Dalijan noted a reduction in crime rates in Zamfara, attributing it to the concerted efforts of security agencies and Community Protection Guards (CPGs) in combating terrorists who have migrated from Maiduguri to Zamfara.
In his response, Parker acknowledged the request made by governor Dauda Lawal to the UN for assistance in tackling the state’s security challenges.
He assured that the UN is ready to conduct a thorough assessment of the security situation in Zamfara to understand the underlying causes and develop effective strategies to mitigate the threats.
The UNODC team is on a three-day stakeholder engagement to gather insights on the scope of insecurity in Zamfara, identify major drivers, and explore how best to support the state in tackling the menace.
