No less than 16 people died in bandits’ attack on communities in Bukkuyum and Maru Local Government areas of Zamfara State on Sunday.

The state police had announced that gunmen attacked Juyi and Doruwa communities of Bungudu LGA and Ganar Kiyawa in the Bukkuyum council area.

In his condolence message, Governor Bello Matawalle regretted that the “dastardly and cowardly attack” was coming at a time when peace was fast improving in the state.

“It is unfortunate that this attack is coming at a time when we are experiencing improved peace in the state, where we were able to host millions of people in an important religious event without a single incidence,” Mr Matawalle was quoted as saying in the message issued by his media aide Zailani Bappa on Monday.

The governor, however, assured that the recent attack would not deter his administration’s efforts at achieving total peace in the state.

The governor directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to immediately release relief materials to all attack victims and their families.

Earlier, the state government said peace was gradually returning to the state despite “unpatriotic, conflict entrepreneurs” activities.

Information commissioner Ibrahim Dosara and his security and home affairs counterpart, Mamman Tsafe, said this on Sunday at a joint press briefing on the state of affairs in Zamfara.

(NAN)