No fewer than 20 residents have been killed after heavily armed terrorists launched a brazen three-hour daylight attack on several communities in the Sauna District of Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, with survivors accusing nearby security operatives of fleeing for safety instead of defending residents.
The attackers, who also rustled a large number of livestock, reportedly invaded the communities at about 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday and operated unhindered until about 5:00 p.m., leaving a trail of death, destruction and displacement.
A community member who survived the attack told SaharaReporters on Thursday morning that residents repeatedly hoped security personnel stationed within the area would intervene but were left to confront the terrorists alone.
“The attack started around 2 p.m. and continued until about 5 p.m. The terrorists operated freely for three hours without any security operatives coming to our rescue,” the survivor said.
“The police and the soldiers who are close by ran away for their own lives, leaving the residents completely at the mercy of the terrorists. Nobody came to protect us while the terrorists moved from one community to another.”
SaharaReporters gathered that the victims were being buried on Thursday morning in accordance with Islamic rites as families and community members mourned those killed in the attack.
Residents said the terrorists first attempted to invade Sauna town but encountered resistance from local vigilantes, who engaged them in a gun battle and forced them to retreat.
However, instead of abandoning the operation, the gunmen redirected their assault to surrounding villages where they reportedly met little or no resistance.
Communities attacked include Zauren Goro, Tulluwa, Unguwar Shanu, Tsangaya, Tudun Namali and Tungar Dahiru, where the assailants killed residents, rustled livestock and forced many villagers to flee into nearby bushes.
A resident of Sauna, who spoke earlier to Iconic FM Nigeria on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the attackers operated openly in broad daylight, attacking multiple communities across the district.
