Police:

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Zamfara State Police Command on Friday explained how cattle rustlers kill 18 people in a village in  Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Dsp Mohammed Shehu, Police Public Relations Officer, Zamfara Polce Command in a statement said, “On 13th February, 2018, hunters from Birani village of Zurmi LGA intercepted and accosted a herder in the bush with some suspected stolen cattle and sheep.

“The herder abandoned the animals and escaped into the bush. Unknown to the hunters, the cattle rustler went to Isah LGA of Sokoto state and mobilised bandits to attack the hunters.

“Therefore, on 14th February, 2018, the bandits ambushed the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatality from both sides.

“Police / Military and other sister agencies who reacted by combing the bush and its environs to salvage the situation discovered 18 death bodies. While it is believed that the bandits took away their own persons that were killed.

The Police added in the statement that bush combing is in progress so as to further profile the area while mobile men/ Special forces and military personnel have been drafted to fortify the affected axis.

The Command intelligence unit in conjunction with State CID are investigating the matter to arrest the perpetrators of this dastardly act as the Command promised that it will regularly avail the media of progress being made in the move to arrest the criminals.