BANDITS invaded the palace of Zurmi’s Emir, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Bunu, murdering three persons and kidnapping other town residents.
According to locals, the bandits raided the town at 10 p.m. on Wednesday and targeted the mansion of Nasarawa State’s former Military Administrator, Colonel Bala Muhammad Mande (rtd).
While Col. Mande, a former environment minister under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, was not there, Emir Bunu was inside the palace when the criminals launched their attack.
During the attack, the bandits also smashed a GSM mast and burned two generating sets near the emir’s palace.
A resident of the town who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that upon their arrival in the town, the bandits went straight to the emir’s place and opened fire at the entrance gate in their efforts to gain access.
He said: “Gladly, the gate was locked, otherwise they would have gained access into the palace and probably reached the emir’s apartment. He was the main target because they attempted to kidnap him not long ago.
“In fact, he just returned to the town on Monday after the first attempt to kidnap him failed. The emir was silently moved to the state capital, Gusau, where he spent a week there,” the source said.
Another resident, who did not want to be identified, stated that when the gunmen were unable to gain entrance to the palace, they moved to the former military administrator’s residence and fired several shots at the gate, destroying it.
“On their way out of the town, they killed three people and abducted some others. We don’t know the number of people abducted because when the bandits started the shooting, residents ran into the bush for safety.
“No one dared stay back when the bandits were firing shots. The magnitude of the gunshots was scary, hence, we all ran into the bush for our dear lives.
“We are calling on the government to provide enough soldiers to the town because the bandits may return again since they know the emir is in town. All they want is to abduct the emir and we don’t know why they want to kidnap him,” the resident said.
Another resident, Muhammad Inuwa, stated that he planned to evacuate his family to Gusau because he could not bear the stress caused by armed bandit attacks on the residents.
He said: “I am tired…We are struggling to cope with the economic situation and at the same time battling with banditry. The burden is too much for us to shoulder. I cannot bear it anymore.
“I am contemplating relocating my family to Gusau. At least, if they are in the state capital I can have peace of mind and concentrate on my menial job,” he said.
Inuwa, a father of six, also urged governments to come to their aid by providing appropriate security personnel to protect their lives and property.
The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, confirmed the incident but said he was unaware that some persons had been killed.
However, CP Dalijan confessed that the bandits kidnapped one of the Zurmi emir’s palace staff members.
“He was not abducted in the palace as being speculated. Rather, he was abducted somewhere within the town.
“I can only confirm the abduction of one person and the burning of GSM service mast,” he said.
Information gathered reveals that three people: Sarkin Gida of Zurmi Emirate, Alhaji Yusuf Buhari; a local tea seller whose shop is close to the palace and one other person were those abducted by the bandits during the attack.
A relation, who preferred not to be named, said, “Sarkin Gida was not so lucky. He was coming out from the palace when the bandits started firing at the gate. So, when he started running, the bandits shouted at him and asked him to stop.
“They warned him that even if he entered his house, they would follow him inside and abduct him. So, he stopped and they kidnapped him along with the tea seller and one other person,” he said.
It was further revealed that although the bandits did not gain access into the palace, they looted all the properties in the emir’s family house also located adjacent the palace.
Another palace source, who pleaded anonymity, said the attack had shaken the entire members of the royal family, as according to him, “Our concern is the safety of the emir. It appears this time around the bandits wanted to embarrass the entire traditional institution. We will continue praying against them.
“Although we have not received additional security operatives, the personnel of the state-owned Community Protection Guard (CPG) and members of the vigilante group have been mobilised to the palace to protect the emir.”
Recall that Wednesday’s attack on the palace was the second of its kind in Zamfara State, as the palace of Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Gado Maigari, was also attacked by bandits last year.
During the attack, a policeman and a physically challenged person were killed by the bandits.