Bandits Kill 4, Abduct 150 in Zamfara: An Alarming Attack

Bandits have killed four people and abducted 150 others, including two infants aged six and eight months, during an attack on Dan Isa village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State on Sunday.

Dan Isa, located less than 14 kilometers from Gusau, the state capital, has been gripped by fear and uncertainty following the attack, which occurred a week after 46 residents of Dogon Kade were released by bandits after a ransom of N21 million was allegedly paid.

A local resident, whose wife and son were among those abducted, confirmed the attack to Daily Trust, describing the terrifying scene as the bandits stormed the village around 3 p.m. and operated for six hours. The assailants arrived on approximately 150 motorbikes, each carrying three armed men, and began shooting sporadically, causing widespread panic and prompting residents to flee.

“My wife, Na’imah, and our six-month-old child, Sudais, were among the victims. My brother’s wife, Aisha, and her eight-month-old child were also taken,” the resident recounted.

Another local, Muhammad Auwal, shared harrowing details of the abduction of Hajiya Rakiya, wife of Wamban Dan Isa, Alhaji Bello Halilu, along with other women who were injured during the attack.

Aminu Bello Dan Isa, another resident, revealed that the attack was orchestrated by a gang led by the notorious bandit Alhaji Shehu Bagiwa. While Bagiwa did not participate directly, escaped victims identified his lieutenant, Aminu Baka-da-dadi, as the leader of the operation.

“Some women who managed to escape came back with fractured legs and various injuries, having been beaten by the bandits in the bush,” Dan Isa added.

In the aftermath of the attack, the village has been deserted, with residents seeking refuge in nearby areas like Kasuwar Daji, Rawayya, Gyambarawa, and Gusau, fearing further violence.

Residents of Dan Isa, who have endured repeated bandit attacks over the past five years, are calling for urgent government intervention. They stress the need for more security personnel to protect them and eliminate notorious bandits like Bagiwa and Baka-da-dadi.

“We need more security around us; otherwise, we will not return to the village,” Aminu Bello said, emphasizing the necessity of sustained military presence.

The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, stated that the police had not yet received information about this specific attack. However, he confirmed five attacks in Gusau last week, resulting in the abduction of 11 people. Dalijan assured that security measures in the state capital had been intensified, with 54 patrol vehicles deployed for surveillance, and urged the public to provide useful information to combat banditry.

This recent attack highlights the escalating crisis in Zamfara State, where bandit groups have imposed hefty levies on several communities, demanding nearly N150 million in total before allowing residents to access their farmlands. The affected villages are struggling to meet these demands, exacerbating the already dire situation.