Abdulaziz Yari, Governor of Zamfara State, has not returned to the state three days after tens of people were massacred in his state, according to Premium Times.

Several people were killed in the state on Wednesday and Thursday by suspected cattle rustlers.

However, Yari, who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), chaired a meeting of the NGF Wednesday night and he also attended the meeting of the National Economic Council Thursday at the presidential villa.

From Abuja, he went to Katsina State where President Muhammadu Buhari hosted governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday.

When contacted on Thursday, Sanda Danjari, the state Commissioner for Information, said he was still trying to confirm if the attacks took place.

“I heard it on Radio France this morning, but I am yet to confirm,” Danjari said.

Asked whether the governor was aware, he said he tried “without success to speak with the Governor”.

“I tried his ADC and Sani Garba but I couldn’t get them. I wanted to confirm if His Excellency heard too,” he said.

Muhammad Shehu, spokesperson of the police in the state, said in a statement on Thursday that hunters from Birani village intercepted and accosted a suspected cattle rustler herding in the bush with some ‘stolen’ cattle and sheep.

“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,” Shehu said.

“On February 14, the bandits ambushed the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatality on both sides.”

Police said 18 persons were killed but witnesses said the casualty toll was much higher.