The Police in Zamfara State said several people had been killed by gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers at a mining site in Gidan Ardo village of Bindin District of Maru Local Government Area of the state.
Though the police refused to put a figure to the number of those shot dead, it was gathered they were not fewer than 42.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Shehu Muhammad, confirmed the killing of the miners to newsmen in Gusau in Tuesday.
Muhammad, however, said the command had yet to ascertain the actual number of those killed during the mayhem.
He said investigation into the killing had just begun.
He said the Anti-terrorism Squad of the command had already been deployed to the area to join the Army in trailing the gunmen.
He promised they would soon be arrested.
Eyewitnesses in the area said the gunmen, numbering over 70, rode into the mining site at around 3pm on Monday and shot anyone on sight, killing over 40 persons and injuring several others.
The gunmen were said to have carted away most of the mineral finds and also killed some of those that were in the mining pit.
The Chairman of Maru Local Government Area, Alhaji Salisu Dangulbi, confirmed the killings, but said that staff of the local council were still assisting security agents in their investigation.
The armed bandits have resumed their activities in full swing after the state had started enjoying peace following the launching of a military offensive tagged: “Operation Harbin Kunama” by President Muhammadu Buhari in July.
The bandits now kidnap people in various parts of the state, the latest incident being the kidnapping of the Vice-Chairman of Anka Local Government Area, who had been released, and that of the village head of Doka, who is still their custody.
Similarly, the bandits had recently killed six members of the outlawed volunteer security outfit, Yan Sa Kai, in a confrontation on the outskirts of Anka town.
On Sunday too, the hoodlums killed 10 traders from Kanoma town, who were were on their way to the Talata-Mafara Market.
Crime Gunmen kill 42 in Zamfara
