Bandits Kill Eight Security Personnel in Zamfara

At least eight security operatives were killed on Thursday when gunmen suspected to be bandits ambushed a security patrol convoy in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria.

According to reports from the state government and the police, the attack occurred along the Gusau–Funtua highway, a notorious route linking Zamfara and neighbouring Katsina State.

Governor Dauda Lawal Dare, in a statement posted on Facebook, described the incident as “sad and unfortunate,” confirming that the victims included police officers and members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG) a state-backed vigilante outfit.

> “I just received the sad news of the death of eight security men, policemen and Community Protection Guards, who were ambushed and killed by bandits along the Gusau–Funtua road,” the governor said.


The Zamfara State Police Command, in a separate statement, confirmed the deaths of five police officers, stating that they were ambushed during a routine patrol by “a large number of armed bandits.”

Police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar noted that the officers fought back, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle that led to the killing of several of the bandits, while others escaped with injuries.

However, the police statement did not mention the deaths of the three vigilante members reported by the governor.

Zamfara is among several northwestern and central Nigerian states plagued by armed criminal gangs, locally known as bandits. These groups engage in cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, looting, and attacks on rural communities.

Despite ongoing military operations since 2015, including aerial bombardments and ground offensives, bandit violence has persisted. Government attempts at granting amnesty and financial incentives to the gunmen have failed to restore peace.

Security experts have warned that while the bandits are mainly motivated by profit, their growing alliance with jihadist groups operating in northeastern Nigeria poses a deepening security threat.

The Gusau–Funtua corridor has remained one of the most dangerous routes in the region, with frequent reports of kidnappings, killings, and attacks on motorists.

Authorities say joint patrols of security agencies will continue in the area as part of renewed efforts to contain the worsening insecurity in the state.