The Zamfara state Commandant General of the Community Protection Guards (CPG), Brig- General Lawal B. Muhammad, (retired), weekend escaped being assassinated when armed bandits opened fire on his official vehicle along Funtua -Gusau highway.
The incident occurred around eleven O’clock in the morning of Saturday along Kucheri village in Tsafe local government area of the state.
A source close to the victim who pleaded anonymity in an interview with newsmen at the victim’s hospital bed, said the CPG’s commandant was coming from Kaduna but on reaching Kucheri village, met bandits in their numbers conducting operation along the higherway around the scene of the incident.
He said the CPG’s Commandant Muhammad, fell victim and sustained serious gunshot on the lower arm of his left leg and the other side of his right leg.
The source further said several vehicles were seriously damaged due to gunshots by the bandits, adding that some passengers were injured during the operation.
It was gathered that when the troops of the Nigerian Army were alerted about the operation, they responded immediately and engaged the bandits on serious gun battle until they fled into the bush.
Also an eyewitness, who narrated the ordeal to our correspondent, said some passengers were injured while others were abducted by the bandits during the operation.
According to the witness, no soldier was injured, but the operational vehicle of the troops was partly damaged due to several gunshots.
Blueprint reports that Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal visited the commandant general at his hospital bed to sympathize with him over the unfortunate incident.
Blueprint correspondent reports that already the commandant general of Zamfara state community protection guards has been referred to a Kano Hospital for medical treatment.
It could be recalled that armed bandits killed nine Zamfara state security protection guards CPC personnel in an ambush attack at the main checkpoint of the CPG operatives along Gusau-Funtua Road in Tsafe local government council of the state on Monday and made away with their weapons.
