[FILES] PHOTO: AFP

 Many injured as thugs disrupt PDP congress

Bandits have abducted over 30 women following attacks in 15 villages in Gusau Local Council, Zamfara State.

According to a BBC Hausa Service report, some inhabitants in Geba and Gidan Kaura villages, as well as other areas in Gusau, said the bandits invaded their communities, killed men and destroyed properties.

“The bandits kidnapped women and girls, took them away,” they added.

A resident explained that the bandits kidnapped 10 women in Kura and nine at Bayauri. “They also entered a village called Gana and kidnapped seven before proceeding to Duma and kidnapped another seven. These happened before Sunday morning.”

The report added that many villages had been deserted, as the villagers leave in droves for the state capital, Gusau.

The Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, however, confirmed that the attack was in Geba, adding that shortly after the attack, security agents went to calm the situation.

He said: “Soldiers working in that zone went to Geba and met three people injured. The soldiers dispersed the bandits.”

The commissioner faulted reports that security agents did not visit the villages that were attacked.

In another development, some political thugs have invaded the venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress in Zamfara, leaving many with injuries.

The programme, initially slated for Zaitun Oil Mill, was later moved to the Command Guest House in Gusau, the state capital.

It was gathered that immediately the armed thugs arrived the venue in the early hours of yesterday, they started beating and stoning the PDP members. They also reportedly destroyed the voting materials, nomination forms, two vehicles belonging to party members, chairs and set canopies ablaze.

Personal Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Umar Aminu, said the party would not be intimidated by the incident, noting that the congress would still go ahead as scheduled. He said the hoodlums were unknown and assured that security agencies would investigate the attack.

Despite the attack, the Deputy Governor, Mahdi Gusau, and the Caretaker Chairman of the party, Bala Mande, were at the new venue of the congress.

The congress, which is meant to produce key PDP officials that will pilot the affairs of the party, drew 1,089 delegates from across the state.