13 dead, 12 missing in Zamfara canoe accident

A rescue team dispatched by Birnin Waje and Zauma communities in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State has recovered 10 bodies of the residents that got drowned after the canoes they boarded to flee bandits’ attack capsized Wednesday night, residents told Daily Trust.  Three other bodies were also found floating in a river near […]

A rescue team dispatched by Birnin Waje and Zauma communities in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State has recovered 10 bodies of the residents that got drowned after the canoes they boarded to flee bandits’ attack capsized Wednesday night, residents told Daily Trust. 

Three other bodies were also found floating in a river near Nasarawar Kifi village in the neighbouring Gummi Local Government Area. 

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“The residents in the community just called to inform us about the development and we gave them the nod to take the pictures of the victims’ remains and bury them there. About a dozen people are still missing as the search for more bodies has continued despite the rainfall being recorded in the area. 

“The attack was believed to be perpetrated by one callous bandits’ leader called Buzu. He, for quite a long time, has been terrorising communities in the local government and sacking many of them. 

“In yesterday’s attack, he abducted about 20 residents and herded them into the classes of an abandoned primary school in Nannarki, a community he sacked, which is located 10km east of Ank -Gummi road.” 

“He has made that abandoned primary school his abode. He takes whoever he kidnaps there and usually asks people to take ransom for the captives there. If anyone wants to meet him, he will find him there,” Babangida Bukkuyum said.  

When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, promised to get back to our correspondent. 

 “Give me 15 minutes I will get back to you,” he said but had yet to do so as of press time. 

Also contacted, the Executive Secretary, Zamfara Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), Alhaji Mustapha Ahmad Gummi, said the agency had yet to be officially informed about the incident.  

In recent weeks, communities in the area have recorded a sharp rise in deadly raids.  

The assaults are being staged by bandits who are widely believed to be hiding in expansive Gando and Barikin Daji forests in Bukkuyum and Gummi local government areas.   

Thirteen days ago, 15 worshippers were shot dead by bandits in an attack on a Mosque in the Ruwan Jema community of Bukkuyum LG.