A team of soldiers reportedly chased away several Bandits who barricaded the Gusau-Dansadau route in Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State, on Saturday.
The armed men have allegedly been ambushing drivers and other road users all through the 100-kilometre stretch of road, and it is reported that a number of travellers have been attacked and slain along the highway in the past.
Due to concerns about the attack, travellers are been led by security personnel through Dansadau town for a considerable amount of time.
In most cases, security personnel escort travellers into or out of Dansadau in convoys
According to a resident named Aliyu Dansadau, who spoke to Daily Trust, the armed men had blocked the road on Saturday, December 17th, in order to kidnap or kill travellers.
However, the armed men fled right away after the arrival of the military in a fighter jet.
According to Aliyu, “They positioned themselves at a very dangerous spot called Mashayar Zaki. The spot has been a source of concern for motorists. The road has been cleared now, and travellers are moving freely even though with caution. Earlier, the armed men attacked Maigoge, a community located 8km west of Dansadau but met fierce resistance from the vigilantes there. The vigilantes overpowered them and killed about 15 of the armed criminals.
“This morning, the armed men reinforced and returned to carry out a retaliatory attack on the community. They came in large numbers and on motorbikes. A military fighter jet arrived shortly afterwards. The jet hovered around the Dansadau community and then flew towards Maigoge village. However, we have no information on what happened after the coming of the military jet.”
SP Muhammad Shehu, the spokesperson for the state police command, could not be reached for further information at the time this story was written.
