Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Residents of rural communities in Zamfara State have raised alarm over what they describe as the unchecked presence of armed bandits who move openly in broad daylight, collect levies from locals and reportedly attend Friday congregational prayers while visibly armed. The affected areas include Dayau in Anka Local Government Area and Dolen Moriki in Zurmi Local Government Area, both of which have experienced recurrent security challenges in recent years.
Community members who spoke on condition of anonymity said armed groups traverse markets and residential areas without apparent concealment, carrying assault rifles and interacting with civilians under circumstances residents describe as coercive rather than voluntary. According to these accounts, the gunmen purchase goods in local shops and maintain a visible presence in social and religious spaces, reinforcing what locals characterize as a climate of imposed authority.
Witnesses allege that some residents are compelled to pay periodic levies or provide food items to avoid reprisals. Farmers in particular are said to operate under informal arrangements that require payments before accessing farmlands. While these claims reflect local testimonies, there has been no recent official confirmation detailing the extent of such practices in the named communities.
Zamfara State has been a focal point of banditry in Nigeria’s northwest, with armed groups engaged in kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling and village raids. Over the past several years, both federal and state authorities have deployed joint security operations involving the Nigerian Army, Air Force and police tactical units to dismantle criminal enclaves across forest corridors spanning Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states. Despite these interventions, sporadic attacks and reports of criminal activity persist in remote areas.
Residents of Dayau and Dolen Moriki claim that visible state security infrastructure is minimal, citing the absence of permanent police formations and sustained military presence. They argue that intermittent patrols do not provide long-term deterrence, leaving communities vulnerable to reprisal attacks whenever security personnel withdraw. These assertions align with broader concerns previously raised by civil society groups regarding the difficulty of maintaining continuous security coverage in dispersed rural settlements.
Local leaders indicate that fear of retaliation shapes community behavior. Some residents reportedly express apprehension about publicly calling for large-scale military offensives unless authorities can maintain a lasting presence, fearing that temporary operations could trigger reprisals once troops redeploy. Security analysts note that such dynamics have complicated counterinsurgency strategies in parts of northwest Nigeria, where armed groups often retreat into forested terrain and re-emerge after security sweeps.
The Zamfara State Government has in the past implemented measures including peace dialogues, amnesty initiatives and community-based security arrangements aimed at reducing violence. Federal authorities have also designated bandit groups as terrorist organizations under Nigerian law, broadening the legal framework for prosecution and military engagement. However, the persistence of reported open movement by armed actors suggests ongoing operational challenges.
Independent verification of the specific claim that armed individuals attend Friday prayers in the cited communities has not been confirmed through official security statements. Nonetheless, religious gatherings have previously been targeted or infiltrated in conflict-affected zones across the northwest, prompting periodic advisories and heightened surveillance during congregational events.
Security experts emphasize that restoring full state authority in vulnerable rural communities requires sustained intelligence gathering, community cooperation and permanent security installations rather than short-term deployments. They also point to socio-economic drivers such as poverty, limited infrastructure and porous forest borders that complicate enforcement efforts.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Zamfara State Government nor federal security agencies have issued a fresh statement specifically addressing the latest allegations from Dayau and Dolen Moriki. Residents continue to call for reinforced security presence, structured engagement with community leaders and comprehensive strategies to dismantle armed networks operating in forested corridors.
The situation underscores the continuing complexity of Nigeria’s northwest security crisis, where localized testimonies of open bandit activity contrast with ongoing federal counterterrorism operations. Whether through expanded military deployment, strengthened intelligence coordination or community stabilization programs, stakeholders agree that restoring durable security in rural Zamfara remains an urgent priority.
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