Zamfara State has once again been shaken by violence as bandits launched a deadly attack on Keita village in Tsafe Local Government Area.
The target this time was Sheikh Ahmad Rufa’i, the revered Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Keita village. The attack occurred shortly after the conclusion of the isha’i (night) congregational prayer, leaving the community reeling in shock and grief.
This grim incident marks the second assassination of a prominent religious figure in Zamfara State within a span of three weeks, following the tragic murder of Imam Abubakar Hassan Mada, the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Mada, Gusau LGA.
Eyewitnesses recount that the bandits were initially spotted along the Kwarin Gano-Keita Road, prompting residents to raise the alarm. Despite efforts to warn others of the imminent danger, the bandits brazenly pressed forward, eventually launching a violent assault on Keita village.
Reports indicate that the bandits, failing to execute their intended abduction of road users, turned their aggression towards Keita village. In the ensuing chaos, Sheikh Ahmad Rufa’i lost his life, and numerous individuals, including women, were abducted.
The exact number of abductees remains unconfirmed, as some residents sought refuge in the surrounding bushes, fearing for their lives.
Tragically, the violence did not end there. In a separate incident in Magazu village, Tsafe LGA, two individuals were abducted during the early hours of Tuesday. According to eyewitnesses, the bandits descended upon the village around 3 a.m., unleashing a barrage of gunfire and instilling terror among the residents, many of whom fled their homes in desperation.
The pervasive atmosphere of fear has taken its toll on the communities, with Aminu Kwalfada of Kwalfada village lamenting that the threat of banditry has compelled residents to cease using loudspeakers in mosques during prayers, underscoring the pervasive sense of insecurity gripping the region.
As the affected communities grapple with the aftermath of these heinous attacks, authorities, including ASP. Abubakar Yazid, the Police Public Relations Officer for Zamfara State Command, have pledged to provide updates on the situation as soon as additional information becomes available, as efforts to restore calm and apprehend the perpetrators are underway.
