At Least 9 Killed, Several Abducted in Deadly Bandit Attack in Nigeria

A deadly attack by armed bandit gangs in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state has left at least nine people dead and over 100 others abducted, according to local officials and residents. This incident is the latest in a series of violent assaults in the region, highlighting the deteriorating security situation and rising threats to rural communities, particularly farmers.

The attack occurred on a Friday in the Talata Mafara district of Zamfara, a state that has become the epicenter of violence by heavily armed groups known locally as "bandits." These gangs have been terrorizing the region for several years, engaging in mass kidnappings, killings, and road blockades. Local lawmaker Hamisu Faru confirmed to Reuters that the attackers took no fewer than 100 people, including women and children. He described the ongoing chaos during the incident, stating that the attackers were going door-to-door abducting residents.

Yahaya Yari Abubakar, the political administrator of Talata Mafara district, told AFP that nine people were confirmed dead and at least 15 locals had been taken by the assailants. In Jangebe village, one of the affected areas, residents identified the victims as the leader of the village’s vigilante group, his five team members, and three additional villagers.

This latest attack has struck fear among the local population, with many residents now too afraid to go to their farms due to the constant threat of violence. Bello Ahmadu, another resident, expressed fear about the security situation, confirming the death toll. Jangebe village had previously made headlines in 2021 after nearly 300 female students were abducted from a boarding school. They were released a few days later following a ransom payment, pointing to a pattern of kidnapping for extortion by these gangs.

Mohammed Usman, a local from the same village, revealed that the attackers besieged the community for almost two hours before taking away the captives. In the aftermath of the assault, thousands of residents fled their homes, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Zamfara police have not issued any official statements or responses to media inquiries about the attack.

The origin of the current unrest in Nigeria’s northwest lies in long-standing conflicts between nomadic herders and settled farmers over land use and resources. However, this has now escalated into a broader conflict, worsened by the influx of illegal arms and poor law enforcement. The so-called bandits operate from remote camps in large forests stretching across the states of Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger.

In response, the Zamfara state government has recruited armed vigilante groups and local militias to support the Nigerian military in combating the bandits. These civilian defense forces have occasionally launched offensive raids of their own. In one such incident last month, vigilantes backed by Nigeria’s secret police stormed a gang stronghold in Shinkafi district and reportedly killed around 100 individuals linked to criminal networks.

Despite these efforts, the security situation in northwestern Nigeria remains dire, with communities continually exposed to violent raids, abductions, and displacement. The latest attack underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to tackle armed banditry and restore peace in the region.