Bandits cut off fuel supply to Zamfara communities

Fuel supply to Dansadau town and other neighbouring communities have been cut off by armed bandits who intercepted and set ablaze an oil tanker along Gusau-Dansadau road.

 The fuel tanker was said to be among dozens of other vehicles being escorted to Dansadau on Tuesday August 24, by security operatives on board an armoured personnel carrier.

 It was learnt that bandits opened fire on the tanker triggering huge flames. Owner of the tanker, Alhaji Yau Muhammad Dansadau told Daily Trust that the vehicle was carrying fuel from the NNPC depot in Gusau to supply a filling station in the community, to address the acute fuel shortage witnessed due to closure of other filing stations.

 He said; “The whereabouts of the driver and one other person onboard the vehicle is unknown. They may be kidnapped. The fear is that there is going to be acute shortage of fuel very soon. Motorcycles, vehicles and other machines using petrol will soon stop.

 “As I am told, the fuel tanker was not only the vehicle attacked, several other motorists jumped out of their vehicles and scampered to safety despite the fact that the attackers were engaged in a firefight by the police escort.

 “No vehicle can ply that road without escort, dozens of people especially local traders and commercial drivers have been killed or kidnapped along that 100 km road that is in a very terrible condition."