76 killed, scores injured in Zamfara - NEMA

*The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that at least 76 people have been killed in Zamfara state

*The agency revealed that cattle rustlers carted away with 704,303 livestock

*The attacks which took place in three communities between November 2015 and January 2016, affected 13,605 persons

The Leadership reports that no fewer than 76 people have been killed and others injured with thousands of cattle carted away by cattle rustlers in Zamfara state in three months.

The NEMA acting head of operations for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Tanimu Thickman disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Monday, March 7. 

Lamenting the activities of armed cattle rustlers within the zone, Tanimu said, between November 2015 and January 2016, the bandits have killed 76 people in three local governments of Tsafe, Bungudu and Maru in Zamfara state.

“From our records, between November last year and January this year, the armed cattle rsutlers have killed 23 people in Maru local government, injured many with about 5 sustaining gun shot injury. They are carted away with about 704,303 livestock and a total of 13,605 persons were affected,” he said

Meanwhile, the federal government has said that it would put in place legislation to prohibit herdsmen from allowing their cattle roam in cities and villages.

The minister of agriculture and rural development, Audu Ogbeh, who condemned the attacks on communities stated that a formation of the Nigerian army has been deployed to the communities to restore peace adding that most rampaging herdsmen were from neigbhouring countries.