ZAMFARA — Tension has gripped Zamfara State following the killing of eight security operatives — including policemen and members of the Community Protection Guard (CPG), popularly known as Askarawa — by bandits along the Funtuwa–Gusau road. The ambush, described as “well-coordinated and brutal,” occurred on Thursday, deepening fears of renewed insecurity in the region.
A security official confirmed the incident, noting that the joint patrol team was caught off guard by the armed assailants, who outnumbered and overpowered them. Governor Dauda Lawal, in a statement issued in Hausa and translated to English, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, praying for the souls of the fallen officers and for divine intervention in ending the state’s security challenges.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” the governor said. “We received with great sadness the news that bandits ambushed a convoy of our police and community guards, killing eight officers. May Allah comfort their families and bring peace to Zamfara, the North, and Nigeria as a whole.”
The tragedy came just hours after another horrifying attack in Maradawa, Gusau Local Government Area, where armed men stormed a mosque during early morning (Subhi) prayers, abducting several worshippers. Witnesses reported that the attackers surrounded the mosque, seized their victims, and fled into the nearby forest.
The double tragedy has plunged residents into fear and mourning, as security agencies intensify operations to rescue the abducted victims. Despite ongoing efforts, authorities have yet to release an official casualty figure or provide details on the progress of rescue missions.
Thursday’s assault mirrors an earlier attack on September 26, 2025, when bandits invaded Yandoto community in Tsafe Local Government Area, killing at least five worshippers and kidnapping others. The recurrence of such incidents underscores the worsening insecurity that continues to haunt Zamfara’s rural communities.
