Gunmen Burn Four to Death in Zamfara Village After Refusal to Pay Levies

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Gwargwaba, Zamfara State, Nigeria — In a brutal assault that has underscored the persistent security crisis in northwest Nigeria, armed bandits killed four residents and razed homes and property in Gwargwaba village, Nahuce District, Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Thursday evening. The attack occurred at about 6 p.m. when heavily armed assailants on motorcycles stormed the rural community, setting fire to houses, food stores, and livestock enclosures after villagers reportedly refused to pay unlawful levies demanded by the gang. Officials and local sources confirmed the killings and destruction late Friday as relief and security organizations began assessing the aftermath. Local authorities have not yet released an official casualty figure beyond the four confirmed fatalities, but residents described widespread devastation and displacement. 

Eyewitness accounts describe the assailants arriving in coordinated groups, advancing rapidly through the village with sophisticated arms. “They came without warning and began shooting into homes. Some of our neighbours were trapped inside as the flames grew,” said a Gwargwaba resident who witnessed the attack. Survivors said the four victims were burnt alive when the bandits set their homes on fire after residents failed to meet the demands for payment. Many other villagers fled into nearby bushland or sought refuge in surrounding towns to escape the onslaught.

Zamfara has been among the worst‑affected states in Nigeria’s long‑running banditry conflict, a multifaceted security crisis that has persisted for more than a decade across the north‑west region. Armed groups operate in loosely affiliated networks, employing hit‑and‑run tactics on motorcycles to raid communities, abduct residents for ransom, rustle cattle and extort payments under the threat of violence. Analysts and human rights monitors describe these groups as highly mobile and opportunistic, exploiting weak governance, porous borders and complex local dynamics to evade security forces. The violence has driven widespread displacement, eroded rural economies, and strained local capacities to respond to repeated attacks. 

The circumstances leading up to Thursday’s attack are consistent with reported practices by armed gangs in the region. In several states including Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto, bandit groups have imposed “protection” levies on farming communities and travel routes, demanding sums purportedly in exchange for safety. Non‑compliance has frequently precipitated reprisals, often in the form of arsons, killings, abductions and theft of livestock. Security analysts note that these extortion schemes

📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews