Zamfara

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least 50 people have been killed after armed men launched a deadly overnight attack on a community in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara State, according to officials and residents.

The incident occurred in Tungan Dutse village, located in the Bukkuyum area. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles late Thursday night. The assault continued into Friday morning. During the attack, houses were set ablaze and several women and children were taken away.

A lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, Hamisu A. Faru, confirmed the scale of the killings. “They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” he said.

Faru also noted that the number of abducted persons remains uncertain. He explained that authorities are still working to determine how many people are missing.

Residents said there were early warning signs before the attack. One of them, Abdullahi Sani, stated that villagers had informed security operatives after seeing more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men a day earlier. However, no preventive action was taken.

“No one slept yesterday; we are all in pain,” Sani said, adding that three members of his family lost their lives.

The latest violence highlights the ongoing insecurity affecting parts of northern and western Nigeria, where armed groups continue to carry out attacks on communities.

In a related development, reports indicate that at least 46 people were killed last week in separate attacks in the Borgu area of Niger State. The deadliest incident occurred in Konkoso village, where dozens of residents were reportedly shot or killed in brutal circumstances.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has strengthened its security partnership with the United States. This follows concerns raised by former US President Donald Trump, who accused Nigeria of failing to curb killings and threatened possible intervention.

On December 25, US forces carried out air strikes in Sokoto State in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Earlier this week, Nigeria’s military confirmed the arrival of about 100 US personnel to support local forces.

According to Defence Headquarters spokesperson Samaila Uba, the US troops will provide “technical support” and “intelligence sharing” to assist in tackling “terrorist organisations”, along with “associated equipment”.

He added that the foreign troops will not participate directly in combat operations but will operate under Nigerian command.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly killed more than 30 people in Dutsin Dan Ajiya village, Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Residents said the attackers stormed the community on Thursday night. They arrived on motorcycles after sealing off entry and exit routes. The assailants then attacked the village and targeted residents.

Witnesses disclosed that the gunmen fired repeatedly and moved from house to house without resistance for several hours.

A resident confirmed that about 30 bodies had been recovered as of Friday morning. Several persons were still missing at the time of filing this report.

“The attack resulted in the death of at least 30 residents, both men and women. Many were wounded, and several others were abducted during the raid,” he said.

Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West region have continued to witness violent attacks linked to bandit groups. The criminals have carried out killings, kidnappings, and destruction of property over the years despite repeated security operations.

Amid the persistent insecurity, the Zamfara State Government allocated N1 billion in its 2026 approved budget for the construction of cemeteries across the 14 local government areas. The provision falls under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Earlier this month, bandits ambushed travellers returning from Maga Market to Kyaram community in Bukkuyyum Local Government Area. At least five people lost their lives during that attack, while several others could not be accounted for.

In another incident reported on January 31, at least four residents of Gwargwaba village in Nahuce District of Bungudu Local Government Area were killed after armed men invaded the area on January 29, 2025. Houses were set ablaze during the assault.

Security alert platform Bakatsine confirmed that four villagers were burned to death inside their homes during the raid.

The repeated attacks have sparked public anger across the state. In July 2025, residents from more than 30 communities in Gusau Local Government Area staged a protest over what they described as constant killings and abductions.

The demonstrators carried placards with messages that read: “We, the people of about 30 communities of Gusau 11, need peace and want to be rescued from bandits,” and “Peace is our concern as we are being killed every day. End banditry in Mada, Lilo, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Bangi, others.”

Protesters stated that fear of attacks had forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands during the rainy season. They also accused the attackers of looting food supplies and destroying property.

A previous review of the Zamfara State budget document also showed plans to spend N2.5 billion on the purchase of 50 vehicles in 2025. Records indicated that N13.114 billion had already been expended between January and October 2024 for the same purpose.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack at the time of this report.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has expressed serious concern over what he described as the inadequate response of security agencies to intelligence on criminal activities, claiming that crucial information is often ignored because it is “not their priority.”

In an interview, Governor Lawal said that despite advances in technology that allow real-time tracking of criminal movements, security operatives have repeatedly failed to act decisively.

“If you follow all my interviews about insecurity, I strongly believe that we are not ready for this. I still believe we are not ready because it doesn’t take anything. With technology, every movement of any bandit, I have it in my system because we have satellites and drones. Every movement is communicated to all the relevant security operators: police, military, DSS and civil Defence real-time. But it is not their priority and it’s frustrating. When you have the tool, you can neutralise these guys easily. They live within us. How is it difficult? You are telling me a bandit, a terrorist is superior to the state? How is that possible? It’s not,” he said in the interview with Vanguard.

Governor Lawal stated that he personally briefed President Bola Tinubu about the true level of insecurity in Zamfara and parts of Kaduna, insisting that federal authorities have not been accurately informed.

“I met the president and I made it very clear to him that this is what you need to do, that they are not telling you the truth,” he added.

The governor lamented that, despite deploying advanced surveillance systems, security agencies have allegedly failed to treat intelligence as urgent, allowing attacks to continue unchecked.

Reflecting on the state he inherited upon taking office, Governor Lawal described Zamfara as “a very, very serious and dysfunctional state,” noting challenges such as unpaid salaries, an empty treasury, collapsed healthcare services, lack of potable water in Gusau for five months, students unable to sit for WAEC and NECO examinations, and widespread infrastructural decay. Electricity had also been disconnected from government offices, including the Government House, due to unpaid bills, forcing him to rely on personal resources to run the state.

Despite these challenges, the governor emphasized that insecurity remains the most pressing issue and warned that neglect by security agencies could continue to undermine peace efforts in Zamfara and neighbouring states such as Kaduna.

His remarks come amid continued violence in the state. Last Monday, SaharaReporters, a Nigerian online newspaper, reported that bandits armed with sophisticated weapons attacked Moriki town in Zurmi Local Government Area, killing a senior local government official and abducting several residents.

The attackers reportedly fired sporadically, causing panic as residents fled. During the attack, Lauwali Musa Moriki, the Zurmi LGA Health Educator, was shot dead, and members of his family were abducted, according to a local source, Bakatsine.

The incident has plunged Moriki town into mourning and heightened fears over worsening insecurity, with residents accusing security agencies of failing to prevent repeated attacks despite multiple warnings. Moriki town, like many rural communities in Zamfara, has faced frequent assaults by armed groups exploiting poor security presence and difficult terrain.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A councillor in Zamfara State, Abubakar Muhammad Tahir, who represents Mayana Ward in Gusau, has shared bags of charcoal and charcoal-fired pressing irons with residents of his constituency as part of what he described as an empowerment effort.

Findings show that the items were provided to members of the community to assist them in small income-generating activities. Reports indicate that the outreach targeted residents of Mayana Ward and formed part of the councillor’s engagement with constituents at the grassroots level.

Information published by Nasarawa Daily News stated that the materials were intended to help beneficiaries venture into petty businesses and other trades that depend on charcoal and pressing irons for daily operations.

The development has again drawn attention to the pattern of modest empowerment packages often rolled out by political office holders across the country. Such initiatives, in many cases, have attracted public criticism, with some observers arguing that they offer limited long-term economic value.

In May 2024, the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Rufai Hanga, reportedly distributed 5,000 white garments and clay pots to constituents for burial purposes. The lawmaker’s aide, Dawuud Auwal, later shared a report of the exercise on Facebook and commended the gesture, writing, “Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah A Newspaper Named Newsveo Revealed The Good Things That Senator Rufai Hanga Has Brought To His Region In 2024, After I See You On My Facebook Page I See The Contentment Of What They Did And The Truth Of The Conversation Is Why They Did It.”

Earlier in March 2024, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, a member of the House of Representatives for Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, handed out cooking stoves and other items to constituents in Abia State under an empowerment scheme.

Records also show that on April 29, 2022, Senator Aliyu Wamakko donated wrappers and cash assistance to less-privileged women in Sokoto North Senatorial District to ease financial pressure during the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. His media aide, Bashar Abubakar, said the former governor personally presented the packages, which went to young girls, women and the elderly.

In February 2022, a councillor in Sokoto donated two plastic mats to residents of Sadada community in Kebbe Local Government Area and posed for photographs during the presentation.

Other examples have surfaced over the years. In 2020, Abdullahi Mamudu, who represented Rijau/Magama Federal Constituency in Niger State, distributed wheelbarrows to youths as part of an employment drive. In 2018, Alhassan Ado Doguwa shared cutlasses and hoes with constituents in Kano State under a youth support initiative.

Media reports in 2021 also highlighted how a local government chairman in Ilesa East, Osun State, presented hairdryers and sewing machines to selected beneficiaries to encourage small businesses.

Across different states, empowerment items have ranged from tricycles and motorcycles to grinding machines, sachet water packs and shoe-shining kits. There have also been instances where donkeys and cassava stems were shared as livelihood support.

One such case involved wheelbarrows branded “Gov Ortom for You,” which were distributed by an aide to former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom. Beneficiaries were expected to use them for errands and street hawking.

A similar programme later appeared in Taraba State, where a lawmaker, Maigari Bello-Kasimu, distributed wheelbarrows to constituents. His spokesperson, Saidu Na-Anabi, explained the rationale, stating, “All of them used to hire wheelbarrows and push to earn their living, but now they have the opportunity of owning their wheelbarrows.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, operating under Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have overrun the stronghold of a notorious bandit leader, Gwaska Dan Karmi, in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing scores of bandits during a fierce gun battle.

This is contained in a statement signed by Lolaniyi Osoba, Lieutenant Colonel, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, on February 1, 2026.

The military operation followed credible intelligence which revealed that more than 100 armed bandits had converged at the camp to plan coordinated attacks on surrounding communities and military supply routes. Troops placed the location under close surveillance for several days before launching the assault with support from the Nigerian Air Force.

The troops engaged the bandits on January 31, 2026. Heavy exchanges of gunfire broke out after the terrorists attempted to flank and encircle the advancing forces. The soldiers, backed by superior firepower, repelled the attempt and gained control of the camp. Many of the bandits were killed during the clash, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

After securing the area, the troops set the camp ablaze and withdrew in an organised manner. The Nigerian Air Force has continued interdiction missions to track and eliminate fleeing bandits, while ground forces retain control of the area.

The Nigerian Army confirmed that some soldiers lost their lives during the encounter. One combat enabler vehicle was also struck by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade and caught fire. The Army paid tribute to the fallen personnel and reaffirmed its resolve to sustain the fight against banditry.

According to the military, troop morale and combat effectiveness remain high as operations continue to dismantle criminal networks and disrupt their logistics across the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least four people lost their lives on Thursday evening after armed bandits attacked Gwargwaba village in Nahuce District of Bungudu Local Government Area, Zamfara State.

Reports said the attackers stormed the community at about 6:00 p.m. A security analyst, Bakatsine, disclosed the incident in a post shared on X on Saturday. He stated that the assailants were heavily armed and set several houses on fire during the raid.

According to the report, four residents were trapped inside their homes and died as the fire spread.

The attackers also destroyed food items, killed villagers’ livestock, and set them ablaze.

Bakatsine said the attack followed the community’s refusal to pay levies demanded by the bandits. He noted that the decision angered the attackers and led to a violent response.

He wrote, “On Thursday evening around 6pm, bandits armed with sophisticated weapons stormed Gwargwaba village in Nahuce District, Bungudu LGA of Zamfara State. Four residents were burned alive in their homes, while houses, food stores and livestock were set ablaze. The attack reportedly followed the villagers’ refusal to pay illegal levies imposed by the bandits,”.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the 8 Division Garrison Strike Force under Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 2 have recorded major gains during a military operation in the Sububu Forest area of Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State.

The development was confirmed in a statement signed by Captain David Adewusi, Media Information Officer, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, on January 24, 2026.

The operation targeted terrorist hideouts within the forest and led to the neutralisation of six terrorists, the recovery of weapons, the destruction of operational assets, and the rescue of a kidnapped underage victim.

Military sources said the offensive began at Indulumu village, where troops engaged terrorists in a gun battle. Two of the terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while one AK-47 rifle was recovered from the scene.

The troops later advanced to Ruduno village, where they faced renewed resistance. Four more terrorists were neutralised during the confrontation. Soldiers also recovered another AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

Two motorcycles used by the terrorists for movement and logistics were destroyed at the location.

During further clearance operations inside the forest, the troops rescued an underage girl, identified as Halira Ibrahim, who had been held captive by the terrorists. The rescue brought an end to her captivity and reunited her with safety.

The operation also led to the destruction of several terrorist camps and support structures located in Magaji, Galakaje, Filinga and Kukatara communities.

Security sources said the action has disrupted the ability of the terrorists to regroup and maintain supply routes within the area.

The operation formed part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore peace in Zamfara State.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops in Zamfara State demonstrated “exceptional bravery” but suffered significant losses during a terrorist ambush over the weekend, military authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred on January 19, 2026, along the Bingi–Kekun Waje–Gusau Road. Soldiers from Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) were returning from a series of successful offensives and responding to a distress call when they were attacked at Gidan Wagni.

Despite the surprise assault, the troops fought back, preventing the attackers from reaching nearby communities. The engagement, however, came at a high cost, with five soldiers and one police officer killed.

Reinforcements, including a Mobile Strike Team and a Quick Reaction Force personally led by a Brigade Commander, swiftly mobilized to the scene. A counter-ambush forced the terrorists to withdraw.

Credible intelligence suggests the fleeing terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with notorious kingpins JANWUYA and ALHAJI BELLO—a top lieutenant to bandit leader KACHALLA SOJA—seriously injured.

The ambush followed a major three-day operation from January 17-19, where troops raided terrorist enclaves in Birnin Magaji and Anka. Those earlier operations led to three arrests, four terrorists killed, and the recovery of a cache of weapons, including a PKT machine gun, five AK-47 rifles, and communication radios.

The Theatre Commander has condoled with the forces and commended their courage. Operation FANSAN YAMMA assures the public that the situation is under control and has urged citizens to continue supporting security efforts with timely information.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Zamfara State Police Command has successfully thwarted an attempted invasion of Maru metropolis by armed bandits who reportedly planned a mass abduction in the early hours of Sunday.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

“Acting on timely intelligence, a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Community Protection Guards, and Vigilante Groups swiftly engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat with suspected gunshot injuries. No casualties or abductions were recorded,” the statement read.

It added, “However, Security has since been reinforced in Maru and the surrounding areas.”

The State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Maikaba, commended the professionalism of the operatives and assured residents of the Command’s dedication to protecting lives and property.

He also called for continued public cooperation to enhance security.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A deadly ambush by bandits on the Dansadau–Magami highway in Zamfara State has left at least two people dead, with fears the toll could rise as more reports emerge.

The attack began when bandits detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) against travelers. As emergency responses mobilized, a second IED was detonated in what security analysts describe as a deliberate “double-tap” attack aimed at causing maximum casualties and panic. The blast sent surviving passengers scrambling for safety.

Authorities report that the attackers are actively planting additional explosives along the route in a new tactic aimed at sabotaging the military escorts assigned to protect civilian travel.

This development marks a dangerous escalation in the region’s security challenges.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for clearance operations as travel along the highway remains extremely hazardous.