Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed 12 members of a single family after setting their home on fire, while also abducting several residents during a violent raid on Gidan Taba village in Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
The attack occurred on Saturday night in Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward, where the assailants reportedly stormed the community and targeted the family of one Mallam Muhammadu Sani.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims had locked themselves inside a room in an attempt to escape abduction by the attackers.
He said the bandits, upon discovering that the family members were inside the room, ordered them to open the door, but they refused, prompting the attackers to set the room ablaze.
The Maradun Local Government Chairman, Hon. Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, described the attack as unfortunate and inhuman.
He also led the funeral prayers for the deceased at Gidan Taba village on Sunday.
“Really, what occurred in Gidan Taba village is heartbreaking and disheartening. A father, his wives and small children, 12 of them, were all killed by fire,” Dosara said.
He explained that the victims were not directly burnt by the flames but died from the intense heat after the bandits set their room ablaze.
“The bandits set the room ablaze. They were not burnt because the fire engulfed the roofing, but the horrible heat resulted in their death,” he narrated.
The chairman confirmed that several other residents were abducted during the attack but said local vigilantes managed to secure the release of some of the victims after a gun duel with the assailants.
“It has been confirmed to me by one of the vigilantes that the bandits abducted people, but they blocked them and secured the release of some after an exchange of gunfire,” he said.
Dosara, however, said the exact number of those abducted was yet to be established because of the tense situation in the community.
“As of now, because the tension is high, we are yet to identify the actual number of people abducted, but later we will have the details,” he said.
He further explained that the attackers employed a diversionary tactic by shooting sporadically in different directions to confuse security personnel and conceal their actual positions.
“They used disguise tactics of shooting sporadically in different directions, which confused security,” the chairman said.
Dosara added that he had visited the nearest police mobile base to strengthen security cooperation and prevent a recurrence of the attack on the community.
The deceased were buried on Sunday morning according to Islamic rites.
The incident has heightened concerns over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Zamfara State, particularly communities along the Gusau-Sokoto highway, which have witnessed repeated attacks, ambushes and kidnappings by armed bandits.
Residents described the latest attack as barbaric and called on security agencies and the state government to urgently strengthen security operations to prevent further killings and abductions.
What You Should Know
This tragic incident highlights the severe security challenges facing rural communities in Zamfara State, where armed bandits frequently raid villages, abduct residents, and inflict devastating violence. The attack led to the tragic deaths of an entire family who locked themselves in a room to escape kidnapping.
- Negative Impact: Increases fear, grief, and psychological trauma among residents in rural areas, while displacing more families and worsening the already fragile security along northern highways.
- Potential Concerns: Underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in local intelligence and emergency security responses, raising urgent calls for reinforced security patrols and proactive measures to curb banditry.
