The Police in Zamfara State on Thursday confirmed the death 18 persons in a fresh attack by gunmen in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Muhammad Shehu confirmed to Channels Television that the attack was a reprisal.
Shehu said the trouble started on Tuesday when hunters from Birani village of Zurmi Local Government Area intercepted and accosted a herder in the bush with some cattle and sheep suspected to have been stolen.
The cattle rustlers according to Shehu, however, ran away to later return to Isah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, mobilised bandits to attack the hunters.
He assured that the command’s Intelligence Unit has already embarked on an investigation to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.