Residents told Daily Trust that the armed men had previously captured and killed a prominent vigilante leader in Kanoma named Dahiru Dangamji and three of his lieutenants in a forest 5 kilometres south of Kanoma town.
A resident, Ibrahim Aliyu, said the armed men had, for quite a long time, been targeting the vigilante leader and some of his top boys.
“The news of the killing of the vigilante leader filtered into the community. Shortly afterwards, dozens of armed vigilantes mobilised and headed to the forest to confront the armed criminals and avenge the killing of their leader," he said.
"But the gunmen who were informed that the vigilantes were coming into the forest laid an ambush and shot dead 16 of them. However, casualties were also recorded on the part of the armed men. Reports said more than ten of them were killed. But, this cannot be independently verified.
"The armed criminals thereafter moved to a goldmine near the Danzara community and shot dead five artisanal miners. The bodies of the slain miners and the vigilantes are being scooped from the forest for burial.
"As I’m talking to you there is a tense security climate in Kanoma community as armed men were spotted approaching the town apparently for attack. We are calling on the security operatives to expedite action against them,” Ibrahim said.
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