In a distressing incident in Gidan Turbe village, located within the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, over 40 worshippers were forcibly taken by a group of heavily armed bandits.
Simultaneously, Dogon Daji town, also in Tsafe LGA, suffered a brutal attack where the community’s district head was beheaded by these violent assailants.
The armed group, equipped with advanced weaponry, launched their assault on Monday during the early morning prayers, seizing approximately 40 individuals from the congregation.
Eyewitnesses reported that the abducted victims were marched towards a well-known landmark, Gahori Mountain, under the bandits’ control.
This violent incursion has instilled widespread fear, prompting many residents from Gidan Turbe and neighboring villages to abandon their homes in search of safety.
Muhammad Yusuf Tsafe shared that numerous inhabitants have fled the village, while others have relocated their families to safer towns, including the state capital, Gusau. He described the ordeal as harrowing, emphasizing the gravity of losing so many community members in a single attack.
According to reports, the bandits surrounded the mosque, patiently waiting for the worshippers to conclude their prayers before carrying out the abductions.
Another local, Yunusa Kafi Karfin Yaro, highlighted a surge in banditry across southern Tsafe, affecting multiple communities such as Danjibga, Bilbis, Kwalfada, Wanke, Kucheri, and Machiya.
Recent intelligence indicates that women and children have been among those captured in these ongoing raids.
Meanwhile, terrorists-planting-ieds-on-borno-highway/” title=”Troops neutralise two ISWAP … planting IEDs on Borno highway”>security forces under Operation FANSAN YAMMAN (OPFY) have successfully thwarted several bandit attacks across Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.
In Katsina, troops from the 17 Brigade Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mabai intercepted terrorists in Gatakawa village, recovering a motorcycle and a mobile device.
Elsewhere, FOB Danmusa personnel repelled an ambush targeting Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers near Danmusa Forest. Tragically, one NSCDC member succumbed to gunshot injuries at Danmusa General Hospital.
Additionally, a military convoy on patrol in Faskari was ambushed, resulting in two soldiers being wounded, though the attack was successfully repelled.
The convoy, led by the Commanding Officer of the 382 Army Regiment, was en route to inspect FOBs in Faskari, Mabai, and Dan Ali when it came under fire at Ruwan Godiya village along the Sheme-Kankara road. Despite the assault, the troops managed to extract the convoy safely, with the injured soldiers receiving prompt medical attention.
In Kebbi State, forces from the 8 Division Garrison engaged terrorists in Ungushi village, Kebbe LGA, forcing their retreat. One civilian was injured and taken to Kebbe General Hospital.
Further operations in Augie LGA, in collaboration with NSCDC, responded to terrorist activity in Tunga Dade, Mera village, where assailants stole a motorcycle before fleeing. Pursuit efforts were unsuccessful.
Back in Zamfara, 1 Brigade Team 7 troops patrolling Mararaba Kyeware in Tsafe LGA chased after terrorists but were ambushed near Kuka on their return.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful as he was unreachable at the time of reporting.
Hon. Garba Shehu Tsafe, Chairman of Tsafe Local Government Area, confirmed to the BBC the killing of the district head in Dogon Daji on Monday evening. He also reported that gunmen have since blocked several roads leading to Gusau.
The chairman linked the escalation of violence in Tsafe to the ongoing unrest in neighboring Katsina State.
Security analysts have consistently cautioned that negotiating peace with bandits is not a sustainable solution, warning that militants may exploit such agreements to regroup and launch attacks elsewhere before returning to safe havens.
