Bandits Attack Zamfara, Slaughter Army Lieutenant, Soldiers, and Over 15 Villagers in Ruthless Onslaught

A deadly bandit attack in Zamfara State has left a Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Isma’il Yahya, and an unconfirmed number of soldiers dead. The troops were ambushed while attempting to repel an assault along a highway in the state, according to multiple local sources.

In a related incident, terrorists invaded Tofa village in Magami district of Gusau Local Government Area, killing over 15 residents. The community, located near the state capital Gusau, has been repeatedly targeted in recent years and is now largely deserted. Many residents have reportedly fled due to heavy levies imposed by bandits and the absence of adequate security.

“The bandits on Sunday attacked the community; they ambushed the troops and killed many of them. The families of the dead soldiers have been informed, but the army has been silent on the incident. In Tofa, over 15 people were massacred, many others were injured, and some are still missing,” a source told SK.

Efforts to reach the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Onyinyechi Anele, were unsuccessful, as her phone remained switched off at the time of filing this report.

Zamfara is among several northern states plagued by persistent banditry, with armed groups regularly raiding villages, looting homes, abducting residents, and destroying property. These groups are believed to operate from deep forest camps stretching across Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states. In recent years, they have been responsible for numerous school abductions, sparking nationwide concern.

In 2019, a peace agreement between the Zamfara State government—then led by Governor Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence—and the bandits was introduced in an effort to curb the violence. Despite this accord, attacks have continued unabated, leaving communities devastated and security forces stretched thin.