Zamfara Bloodbath: 22 Killed, Including Four Soldiers, as Bandits Attack Communities, Demand ₦50m Levy

By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

At least 22 people, including four military personnel, have been killed in a bandits’ ambush in Zamfara State, while separate attacks in another part of the state have forced more than 300 residents to flee their homes and left a trail of destruction.

The deadly incidents occurred along the Gwashi–Nasarawa road in Bukkuyum Local Government Area and in three villages within the Dansadau axis, where the assailants reportedly set 12 vehicles ablaze and demanded a staggering ₦50 million levy from affected communities.

The member representing Bukkuyum Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hamisu Faru, confirmed the ambush, saying the victims were attacked on Sunday while soldiers were on duty in the area. He added that the bodies of some victims had yet to be recovered as of the time of reporting.

The military also confirmed the loss of personnel. The Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed the military casualties during an interview on Monday morning.

In a separate wave of violence in the Dansadau axis, bandits reportedly attacked three villages, destroyed vehicles and forced more than 300 residents to abandon their homes. The reported ₦50 million levy has added to the hardship facing communities already grappling with insecurity and displacement.

The attacks have drawn condemnation from the Zamfara State chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which expressed grief over the deaths of civilians and soldiers and warned that the security situation in the state was deteriorating.

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In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kassim Almustapha Kayatawa, the party condemned the violence in Dansadau and Bukkuyum and extended its condolences to the bereaved families.

The party called on the Federal Government and the Zamfara State Government to urgently strengthen security deployments in Dansadau, Bukkuyum and other vulnerable communities. It also demanded a comprehensive response to banditry to prevent further killings, destruction of property and forced displacement.

The NDC also questioned Governor Dauda Lawal’s reported trip to Ethiopia as the state mourned the victims, urging him to cut short the visit and return to address the worsening security situation.

“While the people are being attacked, the governor is said to be in Ethiopia as part of a federal government delegation. We call on him to cut short the trip and return to address the security challenges,” the party said.

It further urged security agencies to intensify operations against armed groups and restore peace to affected communities.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful as of press time.