At least 12 people have been killed in an attack by bandits who invaded Sakajiki village in Kaura Namoda Emirate in Zamfara state.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the incident, said casualties would have been more if not for the quick response of police operatives deployed in the area.

A source in the village told newsmen that the assailants arrived at about 9 pm on Thursday and were there for several hours.

He said at least a dozen persons were confirmed dead as the attackers continued with their operation until around 4 am on Friday.

“They also set several shops and other houses ablaze, including an edifice of a police outpost in the area, as well as several vehicles – one of which was a police patrol van,” he said.

Another source explained that the persons who were confirmed dead were those whose bodies were brought to the open, while a search for those not seen is ongoing.

The team of police mobile force operatives, according to him, tried their best to repel the attack, but they were purportedly overpowered by the bandits.

Shehu, on his part, disclosed that the commissioner of police in Zamfara has deployed an additional squad for reinforcement.

He assured the people of the area that the command would redouble its efforts to ensure it stamps out banditry in the state