Bandits Invade Defence Minister Matawalle’s Hometown, Kill 2 Residents, Abduct 30

Fear has gripped residents of Maradun town, the country home of Minister of Stat for Defence, Bello Matawalle, as bandits invaded the town in the early hours of Friday, killing two persons and abducting about 30 others.

Maradun is the headquarters of Maradun local government area of Zamfara State.

Reports indicated that the bandits attacked the town at about 2:00am and it lasted for about two hours, shooting sporadically and ranscking residents’ houses.

LEADERSHIP gathered that, although the actual number of the abducted persons was yet to be ascertained at press time, the figure was, however, put around 30, including women, children and adults given the number of homes affected.

A traditional ruler, whose house was ransacked by the bandits, expressed dismay over the high level of insecurity in the town.

“It was to my hearing the bandits burgled my palour’s door, coming towards my inner room, I managed to hide while my wives and children followed another passage and ran away to hide somewhere,” he narrated.

The traditional ruler, who don’t want his name in print, expressed concern over the rampant attacks on the town, saying even last week Friday similar attack was carried out on the town, where cattle and sheep were rustled by the bandits.

A resident of the twon, Hassan Ibrahim, lamented that the attack was terrible as bandits were stationed at different locations with sophisticated weapons.

“When I heard their movement close to my door, I crossed over to a nearby wall and ran for my dear life and luckily escaped but overheard them saying that we have all hidden,” he added.

He stressed the need for the Minister of State for Defence, who is the immediate-past governor of Zamfara State, to intervene in the security situation of his country home to avert further attacks.