Zamfara State was plunged into grief on Friday after armed bandits reportedly killed dozens of residents in Dutsin Dan Ajiya village, Anka Local Government Area.
Residents said the attackers stormed the community on Thursday evening, firing shots indiscriminately and blocking all access routes to prevent people from escaping. The assault reportedly continued into the early hours of Friday.
Local sources estimated that at least 30 people were killed, with several others injured or missing. However, other accounts, including reports citing community leaders, put the death toll at 50.
A lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, Hamisu Faru, said the attackers began the raid around 5 p.m. on Thursday and operated until about 3:30 a.m. on Friday. He stated that homes were set ablaze and residents fleeing the violence were shot.
One villager, Abdullahi Sani, said he lost three family members in the attack, describing the community’s anguish as overwhelming. According to him, residents had alerted security agencies after spotting a large convoy of motorcycles carrying armed men, but no immediate assistance arrived.
As of the time of filing this report, the Zamfara State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident. Attempts to reach the police spokesperson were unsuccessful, while a government official promised to respond but had yet to do so.
The latest attack occurred shortly after the Zamfara State Government handed over armoured personnel carriers and a drone to security agencies to strengthen operations against banditry. The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), who received the equipment, had urged troops to take firm action against bandits who refuse to surrender.
Zamfara remains one of several North-West states grappling with persistent bandit attacks despite ongoing military operations.
Security analysts have offered differing perspectives on the situation. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, Executive Director of the Foundation for Peace Professionals, argued that the killings reflect a continuation of existing insecurity rather than a resurgence. He said Nigeria’s security framework remains largely reactive and overstretched, with troops frequently redeployed from one hotspot to another, leaving previously secured areas vulnerable.
Hamzat advocated the decentralisation of policing, calling for the establishment of state and local police to provide sustained and community-based security presence.
Another security expert, Akin Adeyi, urged authorities to adopt a more aggressive approach against armed groups. He suggested that recent developments may have displaced bandits into new territories and stressed the need for coordinated offensive operations to prevent further attacks.
The tragedy in Zamfara adds to a series of deadly incidents across the North-West, heightening concerns over the safety of rural communities.
