Photos as death toll rises in Zamfara village killing by gunmen

Thirty-six people killed by gunmen in Birane Village in Zurmi Local Council of Zamfara State on Wednesday have been buried, amidst outrage on the social media that the tragedy was being downplayed and that there has been no official reaction.
The initial death toll was put at 18 by the Zamfara State Police Command.
The attack appears to be a reprisal against the villagers for intercepting a suspected cattle rustler.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Muhammad Shehu, said on February 13, hunters from Birani village of Zurmi Local Government Area intercepted and accosted a herder in the bush with some suspected stolen cattle and sheep.
Shehu said: “The herder abandoned the animals and escaped into the bush, but unknown to the hunters, the cattle rustler went to Isah Local Government Area of Sokoto State and mobilised bandits to attack the hunters.
“On February 14, the bandits ambushed the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatalities on both sides.
“Police/Military and other sister agencies reacted by combing the bush and it’s environs to salvage the situation and discovered 18 dead bodies.
“It is believed that the bandits took away their own members that were killed. Meanwhile, bush combing is in progress so as to further profile the area.
“Mobile policemen/Special forces and other security personnel from other sister security agencies have already been deployed to the area to restore peace and stability.”
The spokesman also said that the command’s Intelligence Unit had already embarked on investigation to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.