How Bandits Kill 4 and Kidnap 150, Including Infants, in Zamfara Attack
On Sunday, bandits launched a brutal attack on Dan Isa village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and the abduction of 150 people, including two infants aged six and eight months.
Dan Isa is located less than 14 kilometers from Gusau, the state capital. This attack comes shortly after the release of 46 Dogon Kade residents, who were freed by bandits following a ransom payment of N21 million.
A local resident, whose wife and son were among those kidnapped, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust. The resident, requesting anonymity, said the bandits arrived around 3 PM and terrorized the village for six hours. According to him, the assailants, riding approximately 150 motorbikes with three riders each, fired shots indiscriminately, forcing residents to flee.
“My wife, Na’imah, and our six-month-old child, Sudais, were taken. My brother’s wife, Aisha, and her eight-month-old child were also kidnapped. Many women and children were among those abducted,” he recounted.
Another resident, identified as Muhammad Auwal (not his real name), reported that Hajiya Rakiya, the wife of Wamban Dan Isa, Alhaji Bello Halilu, was kidnapped, along with two wives of Wamban Dan Isa’s younger brother, Malama Luba and Malama Talatu.
“I also heard that Malam Musa Ajiya managed to escape, but four women, including his wife, Suwaiba, and his brother Shafi’u’s wife, were kidnapped from his residence,” he added.
Aminu Bello Dan Isa, another local, identified the attackers as being led by a notorious bandit named Alhaji Shehu Bagiwa. While Bagiwa was not directly involved in the attack, his lieutenant, Aminu Baka-da-dadi, reportedly led the operation.
“Some women who escaped returned with broken legs and various injuries, having been beaten by the bandits in the bush before managing to flee,” Dan Isa said.
The attack has left Dan Isa village deserted, with residents relocating to safer areas like Kasuwar Daji, Rawayya, Gyambarawa, and Gusau due to fear of further violence. Over the past five years, the village has faced repeated assaults from bandits, resulting in numerous deaths and abductions. Residents have appealed to the government for help, urging the deployment of soldiers to protect the area.
“We need more security personnel; otherwise, we will not return to the village,” Aminu Bello stated. “Previously, we had soldiers, but since they were reassigned, bandits have resumed their attacks. Eliminating these bandits is crucial for restoring normalcy.”
When contacted, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, said the police had not received information about this specific attack. However, he confirmed five attacks in Gusau last week, with 11 people abducted. Dalijan also noted that police foiled a banditry operation in Damba on Sunday, killing several bandits.
He assured that security measures in the state capital had been intensified, with 54 patrol vehicles deployed for surveillance. Dalijan urged the public to provide useful information to help combat banditry in the state.
This recent attack is part of a surge in bandit activities in Zamfara State. Reports indicate that bandits have imposed nearly N150 million in levies on various communities in Zurmi LGA, demanding payment before allowing residents to access their farmlands. Some villages have managed to pay their levies, while others are struggling to gather the required funds. Malam Yunusa Musa, a resident of Zurmi town, confirmed that these levies are now in effect.
