President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday ordered defence minister, Brigadier-General Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali (Rtd) to proceed immediately to Zamfara state, where bandits killed between 18 and 36 people on Wednesday, 14 February.
The President, who is now in Daura on a condolence visit to family members, asked the minister to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and report back.
He strongly condemned the massacre in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, according to a statement by Media Adviser, Femi Adesina.
The President also commiserated with the families of victims of the heinous and inhuman attacks.
President Buhari has also directed security agencies to immediately mobilise and deploy their members to the vulnerable areas of the state, and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to face the full wrath of the law.
The President assured the Zamfara State government, victims of the mayhem and residents in the state, that the Federal Government will continue to do all it can to support security agencies to secure lives and property, not only in the affected state but all parts of the country.
The Zamfara state Police Command had on Thursday admitted that 18 persons died in the attack, which appears to be a reprisal against the villagers for intercepting a suspected cattle rustler.
Independent sources, however, put the death toll at 36.
With NAN reports