A brutal raid on agricultural lands in the Sauna District of Zamfara State’s Talata Mafara Local Government Area has left 23 farmers dead. Reports from locals on Thursday indicate the fatality count climbed to 23 after search teams discovered seven more bodies in the surrounding wilderness.
Witnesses stated that the assault occurred during the morning hours on Thursday. The perpetrators arrived on motorcycles and began firing indiscriminately at laborers tending their crops. A community spokesperson noted that several individuals remain unaccounted for following the unprovoked violence.
A mass funeral for the deceased was held later that day at the residence of the Sauna District Head. This region has suffered a history of violent incursions against agricultural workers, prompting local leaders to demand a stronger security presence to safeguard the population during the harvest season.
DSP Yazid Abubakar, spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police, verified the tragedy, stating that the Talata Mafara Divisional Police Officer confirmed the death toll. Security forces have since sent extra units to the region to locate the culprits.
