Violence resurfaced in Zamfara State on Monday when armed criminals abducted over 40 worshippers during early morning prayers at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, located in the Tsafe Local Government Area.
According to eyewitness accounts, the heavily armed attackers entered the mosque, patiently waited for the prayer session to end, and then forcibly took the victims toward a well-known nearby mountain called Gahori.
“Reports from Turbe indicate that many villagers have fled their homes seeking safety,” shared Muhammad Yusuf Tsafe, a local resident. “Some families have relocated to Gusau, the state capital. It’s a harrowing ordeal-losing more than 40 people in one incident is deeply alarming.”
This violent episode has sparked widespread fear, prompting inhabitants of adjacent villages to abandon their homes in anticipation of further assaults. Another community member, Yunusa Kafi Karfin Yaro, highlighted that banditry has escalated in southern parts of Tsafe, impacting areas such as Danjibga, Bilbis, Kwalfada, Wanke, Kucheri, and Machiya.
He added, “Numerous individuals, predominantly women and children, have recently been kidnapped by these criminal groups.”
Meanwhile, military forces involved in Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) have maintained aggressive counter-insurgency efforts across Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi States, successfully disrupting multiple bandit attacks despite suffering some casualties.
In Katsina State, soldiers from the 17 Brigade Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mabai launched a surprise attack on militants in Gatakawa village, recovering a motorcycle and a mobile phone. However, personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were ambushed near Danmusa Forest, resulting in the death of one officer who sustained gunshot wounds.
Additionally, troops survived an ambush in Faskari when a convoy, including the Commanding Officer of the 382 Army Regiment, came under fire at Ruwan Godiya village along the Sheme-Kankara road. Two soldiers were injured but received treatment at FOB Mabai before being transferred to the 17 Brigade Medical Centre.
In Kebbi State, soldiers from the 8 Division Garrison engaged insurgents at Ungushi village in Kebbe Local Government Area, compelling them to retreat. One civilian was wounded and taken to Kebbe General Hospital. Elsewhere, combined forces of troops and NSCDC confronted bandits in Tunga Dade, Mera village of Augie LGA, though the attackers escaped with a motorcycle.
Back in Zamfara, soldiers from the 1 Brigade Team 7 were ambushed near Kuka while returning from a patrol in Mararaba Kyeware, Tsafe LGA, but managed to repel the attackers and reach safety.
Attempts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, for an official statement were unsuccessful as his phone was unreachable at the time of reporting.
