An eye witness and an indigene of the village, Malam Musa Ibrahim, who escaped being killed, told our reporter on the telephone that the bandits arrived at the village on the early hours of Tuesday on motorbikes, carrying AK 47 rifles.
According to him, immediately they arrived at the village, they began to shoot sporadically and killed many people, while others scampered for safety.
Musa explained that the bandits later pursued those who ran away and killed some of them.
He said, “I was one of those who ran into the bush. I managed to escape because I was able to climb a tree where I could not be seen.”
He maintained that the bandits also carted away with many animals and foodstuffs when they discovered that there was nobody left in the village.
Musa explained that the villagers buried 21 bodies after the attack, while eight bodies were left on the ground as they were strangers.
“We buried 21 bodies because they were natives of the village but we left the other eight corpses because they were strangers who came from Niger State.”
Musa further told our reporter that the figure of those killed could be more than 29 as “many people were still missing and have not returned to the village two days after the incidence.”
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Musa stated that the villagers informed the police and the Emir of Gummi of the unfortunate incident.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, said only 14 people were killed in the village.
In a signed statement the PPRO said, “Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the killing of fourteen (14) people following an attack on the remote village of Babban Rafi in Gummi LGA near Danko in Kebbi State.
“The attack occurred on the 15th of January, 2020 where a large number of armed bandits suspected to have come from neighbouring Kebbi State stormed the village in the night and started shooting sporadically, a situation that resulted to the death of 14 people.
“Combined teams of PMF/CTU/FSARS attached to “Operation Puff Adder” in conjunction with men from “Operation Hadarin Daji” mobilized to the area with a view to trailing the perpetrators for arrest and to also avoid further attack on neighbouring villages,” the statement read.
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Buhari embarks on first foreign trip in 2020
John Ameh, Abuja
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will embark on a six-day trip to London on Friday, according to the State House.
He is to participate in the inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit, while in London.
The summit itself opens on Monday, January 20, but Buhari jets out of Abuja on Friday.
Buhari is expected back in Nigeria on Thursday, next week.
It will be his first foreign trip this new year.
The Presidency, in a statement by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, explained that the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, would play host to the summit.
African leaders, business owners and heads of international organisations are billed to be in London for the summit to engage in discussions “to create new partnerships that will deliver more investments and jobs.”
The UK and Africa are expected to benefit from the outcomes of the talks.
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It explained further, “Apart from highlighting new perspectives on UK-Africa Partnership for Prosperity, issues of Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure; Trade and Investment; Future African Growth Sectors and Clean Energy and Climate, are expected to dominate presentations and discussions during the Summit.
“With the expected take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area in mid-2020, the London investment summit will provide Nigeria with the opportunity to project itself as a leading investment destination for new industries.
“In addition, the summit will deepen Nigeria-United Kingdom investment ties post-Brexit given that Africa currently represents just two per cent of British trade activity, with Nigeria accounting for only 10 per cent of that total.
“The Nigerian delegation to the investment meeting will further showcase what the Federal Government has done through policies and legislation to improve the investment and business climate in the country.”
Other engagements of Buhari while in London include holding meetings “with the Head of the Commonwealth, Prince Charles in Glasgow, Scotland”, and bilateral talks Johnson “as well as heads of multilateral organisations”.
The Presidency listed those to be on Buhari’s entourage as Governors Yahaya Bello, Muhammad Inuwa and Okezie Ikpeazu of Kogi, Gombe and Abia States respectively.
“Also on the presidential entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd); and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar,” the statement added.
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