Bandits Kill 12 Soldiers, 5 Civilians In Zamfara

At least 12 soldiers and five civilians were killed and two others abducted when bandits attacked a military base in Bindin village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

A resident of the area, Mukhtar Bello told LEADERSHIP that the attack occurred on Tuesday when heavily armed bandits riding on motorcycles in large numbers stormed the troops’ location and opened fire.

He said the attack was a reprisal for the killing of a bandit who had attempted to attack artisanal miners on Monday but was overpowered and his AK-47 rifle seized.

The source said the attack was led by notorious bandit kingpin, Gwaska Dankarami.

According to him, soldiers engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle that lasted for hours but were overpowered due to the superior number of the attackers.

He said 12 soldiers were killed in the encounter, two others were abducted, while weapons and other military equipment were carted away by the attackers.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Army under Operation Fansan Yamma in Gusau proved abortive at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Zamfara State chapter, has condemned the attack, describing it as a massacre.

In a press statement signed by its publicity secretary, Murtala Gusau, the party under the leadership of Alhaji Surajo Garba Maikatako, condoled with the people of Bindin over the loss of lives.

The party, however, expressed dismay over the alleged absence of Governor Dauda Lawal at the time of the tragedy.

The NDC alleged that the governor was part of a federal government delegation to a Nigeria-Ethiopia leadership exchange on nutrition policy in Addis Ababa when the attack occurred.

It described the governor’s trip as insensitive and a betrayal of trust, recalling that he had promised to end banditry during the 2023 governorship campaign.

The party also faulted the federal government for approving the governor’s participation in the foreign trip despite the security situation in the state.

It called on Governor Lawal to return to the state to address the people, demanded explanation from the federal government, and called for the perpetrators of the attack to be brought to justice.

The party urged residents of the state to remain united and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed.