Thousands of people of Mada town in the Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been displaced after persistent attacks by bandits.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the town was attacked four times by the bandits in less than a week, a situation that forced residents to flee their homes.
Our correspondent learnt that the bandits were in the town on Saturday when they shot one person dead, kidnapped three others and rustled several animals.
Many of the displaced residents were seen along the Gusau-Zaria Road, looking for transportation to leave the area, as the bandits threatened to return to the town for another attack.
Mostly affected were women and children, who were seen carrying their belongings and trekking to other places.
An indigene of the area, Alhaji Sani Mohammed, told PUNCH Metro that he escaped when the bandits attacked the town last Saturday.
He said, “I was in my house when I heard gunshots and when I peeped through the window, I saw many people running helter-skelter.
“I was lucky to have jumped over the wall and run as quickly as I could into a nearby bush and later I trekked to the main road then finally arrived in Gusau town.
“My only problem is that I don’t know where my family is at the moment because I did not wait to see them leave the house due to fear of the bandits.”
Meanwhile, the state government has shut down a popular market in the town following the attacks by the bandits.
In a statement, the state Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Dosara, said, “Following the attacks on Mada, Wonaka, and Ruwan Bore districts of Gusau local government, as well as Yandoto Emirate in Tsafe local government, Governor Bello Mattawale has approved the immediate closure of all markets and kara in those districts and Yandoto emirate indefinitely.
“In addition to this, the government has equally banned riding of motorbikes and selling of petroleum products in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts, as well as Yandoto emirate.
‘’Henceforth, all filling stations in the affected areas are closed with immediate effect.”
