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Bandits reportedly killed the Divisional Police Officer, SP Kazeem Raheem, a police sergeant, and a member of the local vigilante group in Maru town, Zamfara State on Saturday, March 4. According to a source, the bandits targeted businessman Alhaji Ilisayu and had already kidnapped his brother, who was released after a ransom was paid. However, the bandits returned to kidnap Ilisayu, but he managed to escape, leaving his wife in their hands.
The DPO mobilized his officers to stop the criminals, but unfortunately, lost his life in the ensuing gunfight. The community source described the incident as a terrible experience, waking up to the sound of heavy gunfire around 2 am. The source also revealed that Maru town has been under constant attack, and several people have been kidnapped in the past year.
SP Muhammad Shehu, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State command, could not be reached as his phones were switched off. This incident adds to the growing list of attacks carried out by bandits in Zamfara State and other parts of Nigeria, highlighting the dangers faced by security personnel and communities in the affected regions.
The Nigerian government has been making efforts to tackle the issue, including deploying military personnel to affected areas and initiating dialogue with bandit groups. However, bandit attacks have continued, and the government must intensify its efforts and come up with effective strategies to put an end to banditry and other forms of criminal activities in Nigeria.
