In a fresh wave of violence, gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked travellers on the Tsafe-Funtua road in Zamfara State, leaving several dead and abducting dozens. The ambush occurred around 6 p.m. on Monday near Kucheri village in Tsafe Local Government Area, where the assailants opened fire on vehicles, forcing many to a halt.
Eyewitness reports confirmed that multiple passengers were killed during the assault, while others were forcibly taken by the attackers.
In a related incident in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, bandits also abducted several villagers, including women and children. According to witnesses, the attackers targeted farmers returning from their fields and motorcyclists traveling on the highway, capturing 36 people and dragging them into the surrounding bush.
A local source speaking to BBC Hausa Service revealed that the bandits had blocked the road leading to Kairu village earlier that day. “At least 36 people were abducted, and one person was killed,” he said. The assailants later raided Maidumma village, where they kidnapped 33 men and women, including mosque officials, shortly after the Juma’at prayer session.
Although local security forces responded, their attempts to rescue the captives were unsuccessful as the gunmen escaped into the forest.
Zamfara State has seen a rise in banditry in recent months, with communities repeatedly targeted by kidnappings and violent raids. Efforts by news men to reach the Zamfara State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, for confirmation of the attacks were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region, where law enforcement has struggled to curb the rising tide of violence.
