About 30 persons including two cops have been killed during a shootout on Saturday night between Zamfara bandits and policemen under the tactical units and Operation Puff Adder.
But the Police Command in the state said “several bandits” were killed.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shehu Mohammed, said the shootout occurred when the bandits attempted to attack Magami village, in the Gusau Local Government Area.
Magami is considered one of the hotspots of crime in the state There were reports of attacks in five other communities.
According to a report by Channels TV, no fewer than 20 villagers were killed and many others injured during the attacks in two local government areas.
Survivors of the invaded communities said the bandits shot sporadically, killing innocent residents.
The affected communities were given as Gabaken, Rigiya, Donroyi, Torawa, and Riwoji, located in Zurmi and Kaura Namoda local government areas of the state.
One of the survivors, identified as Umar Abubakar, said the injured persons were taken to the general hospitals in Kaura-Namoda, Birnin-Magaji and Gusau where two of them were later confirmed dead.
The police report said, “Yesterday night, the command received a report that bandits in their large numbers stormed Magami town in Gusau LGA with intent to attack the community.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Hussaini Rabiu, directed Police Tactical units, comprising of PMF/CTU/Special forces and Operation Puff Adder based in the area to synergise and ensure protection of lives and property of the people.
“The tactical units moved in courageously and engaged the assailants to a gun duel. As a result of the encounter, the attack was successfully repelled, while unspecified number of bandits were neutralised with many of them escaping with possible gunshot wounds.
“Two of our operatives paid the supreme price while defending the innocent members of the communities, but there was no loss of life in the communities.”
He also disclosed that the CP had deployed additional tactical operatives in the area to complement ongoing bush combing operations aimed at forestalling further attacks on the nearby villages.