Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Residents of Danjibga town in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara say their community has been under siege by armed bandits for more than seven weeks, with attackers allegedly surrounding the town and blocking all movement in or out of the area.
Local sources report that the gunmen have established roadblocks on access routes leading to Danjibga, effectively isolating the community from neighbouring towns and cutting off supply lines. According to accounts from residents and nearby community members, traders, farmers and transport operators have been unable to enter or leave the town, creating acute shortages of food, medicine and other essential supplies.
The prolonged isolation has reportedly led to worsening humanitarian conditions. Residents say many people are falling ill due to limited access to healthcare and basic commodities. Pharmacies and clinics in the area are said to be struggling with depleted stock, while households face dwindling food reserves.
Tsafe Local Government Area has long been one of the flashpoints of banditry in northwestern Nigeria. Armed groups operating in forested areas across Zamfara and neighbouring states have frequently carried out raids, kidnappings and cattle rustling. However, community leaders describe the current situation in Danjibga as unusually sustained, with the siege-like conditions persisting for weeks without a decisive security breakthrough.
Sources allege that the bandits’ strategy involves encircling the town to exert control, intimidate residents and potentially enforce informal levies or ransom demands. Analysts note that such tactics have been observed in other rural communities across Zamfara, where armed groups seek to consolidate territorial influence and restrict collaboration with security forces.
Residents of surrounding villages have issued urgent appeals to federal and state authorities, calling on the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services to intervene. They have also urged the Zamfara State Government to deploy additional security personnel and humanitarian support to relieve the town’s hardship.
Security agencies have conducted multiple operations in Zamfara State over the years, including aerial bombardments of suspected bandit camps and ground offensives aimed at dismantling criminal networks. While such operations have recorded tactical successes, rural communities often remain vulnerable due to vast terrain, limited infrastructure and the mobility of armed groups.
Humanitarian observers warn that prolonged blockades can have severe long-term consequences, particularly in agrarian communities where access to markets and farmland is essential for survival. Disruptions to planting or harvesting cycles may compound economic strain and deepen food insecurity.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no detailed official statement confirming the extent of the siege in Danjibga. However, local accounts consistently describe a climate of fear and uncertainty, with residents reportedly confined to their homes and relying on dwindling communal resources.
The situation highlights the persistent security challenges facing parts of northwestern Nigeria, where banditry has evolved from sporadic raids to more organized forms of territorial control. For residents of Danjibga, the immediate concern remains relief from isolation and restoration of safe access to essential services.
Community leaders say urgent intervention is needed not only to dismantle the reported blockade but also to restore public confidence and prevent further humanitarian deterioration. Until security forces establish a sustained presence in and around the town, residents fear that the hardship and uncertainty may continue.
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