No fewer than 15 vigilante members in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara state have been killed by over 100 suspected cattle rustlers yesterday.
Witnesses who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent in a telephone conversation that, the gunmen sent a notice to Gidan Kaso communities in the area informing them about their coming to launch an attack on them.
He said the communities that were informed included Modomawa, Nasarawa Godel, Nasarawa Mailayi and Godel. He said the Vigilante group members in the areas gathered and confronted the cattle rustlers who were armed to the teeth as they launch attack on Gidan Kaso village.
According to the eyewitness, the armed robbers came as they planned and in the battle for control, 15 vigilante members lost their lives on the spot while two others died on the way to the hospital. About 30 other vigilante members were injured during the encounter.
It would be recalled that about two years ago, similar gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers also ambushed a truck loaded with cash crops on their way to Jibiya market in Katsina state and killed the 15 traders on the truck while the armed robbers set the vehicle on fire.
When contacted, the Zamfara state Police Command Public Relations Officer Dsp. Lawal Abdullahi confirmed the incident and also confirmed that 13 vigilante members died in the attack.