Suspected bandits have opened fire on the motorcade of the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, who was on his way to condole with th...
The witnesses said that the Governor’s convoy came under attack, while he was en route Lilo community, to sympathise with victims of the previous attack.
The State Government, had earlier on Monday, issued a statement which said that the Governor and his team were the ones who went after the attackers, and not the other way round.
Earlier on Saturday, 8 people were killed, and 18 others injured, after bandits attacked Lilo community, in the outskirts of Gusau, the State capital.
During the attack on the Governor’s convoy, the bandits, taking advantage of the bushy terrain, opened fire on the motorcade, a source said.
The source, who said he was unsure of the number of casualties, noted that, the Governor’s security detail quickly returned fire, and were able to protect and evacuate their principal.
“Even if we stopped, we cannot cross the river, because the bandits are in (a) better position to notice the movement of anyone confronting them, while they are covered by the thick forest”, the source added, while explaining the security’s withdrawal from confronting the bandits.
Other sources who witnessed the incident gave similar narratives. The sources include public and non-public Officials, but asked not to be named, for fear of being in the new Governor’s bad books.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Idris, the Acting Press Secretary to the Governor, in a statement on Monday, gave a different account.
He said that the Governor led Security Operatives for an ‘operation’, to rout the bandits from their hideouts.
He stated that the Governor was accompanied by his Deputy, Mahadi Aliyu-Gusau, the State’s Security Heads, and other dignitaries.
He revealed further that, the team was able “to chase bandits at their camps during the unannounced visit to the area.”
According to Mr. Idris, the bandits abandoned their hideouts and fled, after the onslaught by the team.
“Despite this, the Governor did not feel discouraged, and moved ahead to Lilo village, for the condolence visit”, the statement added.
“As Chief Security Officer of the State, l have to show a good example; I have no option than to lead Security Agencies for this operation. As a Leader, I have to show commitments to my people, towards addressing this problem”, the statement quoted the Governor as saying.
Strangely, the statement added that the Governor was accompanied by some Dignitaries.
These included, the Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello; Secretary to the State Government, Bello Bala; State Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ibrahim Mallaha; and others.
“How can such Dignitaries like an Emir, join the Governor to go attack bandits”, one of the sources said.
“It was the Governor’s entourage that was surprisingly attacked by the bandits”, the source added.
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