Suspected bandits have killed at least 93 persons in attacks on six communities in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The communities include Kadawa, Kwata, Maduba, Ganda Samu, Saulawa and Askawa.
Hundreds of residents have been displaced as a result of the attacks, with many of them, including women and children, taking shelter in Dauran and Zurmi towns.
Residents said armed men riding on motorbikes stormed the communities, firing at people.
The bodies of the residents killed in the fresh attacks have already been recovered and brought to Dauran, a community located about 10 kilometres west of Zurmi town, headquarters of Zurmi local government area.
The spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, said the police had brought 14 bodies for burial at Unguwar Gwaza cemetery in Gusau, the state capital.
Meanwhile, following the killings in Kadawa village, Governor Bello Matawalle has suspended the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad.
The suspension of the emir is disclosed in a statement yesterday signed by the acting Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe.
In recent weeks, Zurmi local government has witnessed a spike in deadly raids.
Last week, aggrieved youths blocked Gusau to Kaura-Namoda to Zurmi road to protest the unending killings.
Before then, there was a protest at the palace of the Emir of Zurmi.
In other news, Zamfara State Government has cancelled Democracy Day celebrations in the state due to the insecurity situation even as Governor Bello Matawalle has directed the people of the state to defend themselves against banditry attacks.
The Governor stated this yesterday while speaking in Gusau, the state capital, during a prayer session organized by the state government to seek divine intervention against banditry.
