Tragedy struck Madaka on Thursday afternoon as at least 21 individuals, including the village head, lost their lives in a brutal assault by bandits. The assailants, reportedly numbering in large numbers, launched an attack on the bustling market around 3pm, targeting innocent civilians in the midst of their daily activities.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and terror as the attackers indiscriminately opened fire on the crowd, resulting in numerous fatalities and leaving many others with varying degrees of injuries. The wounded were rushed to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna for urgent medical attention, as the community grappled with the aftermath of the horrifying ordeal.
In addition to the loss of lives, reports emerged of numerous individuals, including children, being abducted by the assailants. The bandits also wreaked havoc by setting motorcycles, cars, houses, shops, and goods ablaze, inflicting further devastation on the already traumatized community.
The Madaka attack followed closely on the heels of another violent incident in the neighboring village of Pangu Gari, where gunmen killed the district head and four others. Sources revealed that the bandits returned under the cover of night, launching a renewed assault on the besieged community and perpetuating a cycle of terror and bloodshed.
According to sources, the attackers’ motives included reclaiming cattle recently seized during air operations in the area and engaging in further livestock rustling, exacerbating the already dire security situation in the region.
Saidu Salihu, Secretary of the Coalition of Shiroro Association, decried the severity and tragedy of the attack, calling upon both the federal and state governments to intensify efforts in combating insecurity in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi Local Government Areas.
