The Governor of the Nigerian northwestern State of Zamfara – where armed bandits believed to be cattle rustlers have killed dozens – has ordered security agencies to shoot to kill anyone found carrying firearms in the State.
This follows frequent deadly attacks in the State, which has largely been blamed on Cattle Rustlers.
The security agencies there say desperate situations sometimes require desperate measures.
The State has witnessed attacks upon attacks since the beginning of this year.
Before this latest attack where thirty persons were killed, there had been another gruesome one in February when at least 41 villagers were killed in Zurmi local government area.
All the attacks have been blamed on Cattle Rustlers but the government has struggled to contain the situation. This latest attack happened despite the heavy presence of the military in the State.
Other than Zamfara, another northwestern State that have witnessed consistent attacks is Kaduna where six persons were killed by yet-to-be identified gunmen on Thursday.
President Buhari has since vowed to end the killings. He has deployed more security personnel to the affected States but the attacks have not stopped. It remains to be what effect this shoot to kill order of the Zamfara State Governor would have.
