Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The weekend in Zamfara State turned into a bloodbath for dozens of travelers after armed bandits launched coordinated attacks on two major highways, killing at least 30 people, including local hunters and a community guard, in what witnesses described as a relentless ambush designed to inflict maximum casualties. The attacks occurred within hours of each other on Sunday, May 10, 2026, targeting commuters on the Gusau–Magami road and the Magami–Dansadau highway, both located in the volatile Gusau Local Government Area.
In the first incident, armed bandits ambushed travelers along the Gusau–Magami road. According to a statement issued by the councillor representing Magami Ward, Hon. Shehu Musa, the victims were traveling from Gusau to Magami when gunmen opened fire on their vehicle, spraying it with bullets. The councillor confirmed multiple deaths and injuries but did not disclose specific casualty figures, describing the incident only in terms of “several killed and others injured”. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and called on residents to pray for lasting peace.
But the deadlier of the two attacks occurred on the Magami–Dansadau highway Sunday evening, where terrorists ambushed motorists and commuters in a well‑coordinated assault. According to Malam Abubakar Gummi, Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard, the attackers targeted vehicles moving between Magami and Gusau, opening fire indiscriminately and causing a massacre. “Twenty‑one civilians, eight local hunters, and one community protection guard were killed in the assault,” Gummi confirmed to Blueprint.ng. Security operatives and community guards engaged the bandits in a fierce gunfight following the attack, and scores of militants were reportedly neutralised, though no exact figure was provided for terrorist casualties.
The Magami–Dansadau highway has long been a flashpoint for banditry in Zamfara South, with frequent attacks on travelers, farmers, and traders despite ongoing military and community‑led operations in the area. The route links several rural communities to Gusau, the state capital, making it a vital but deadly corridor for movement and commerce. Despite repeated military interventions, the bandits have maintained the ability to strike at will, often blocking roads and stopping multiple vehicles before killing or kidnapping passengers.
The attacks have left survivors traumatized and families grieving. Security sources confirmed that the victims’ bodies have been recovered and taken to nearby health facilities, while survivors are receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the ambush. Local residents have once again appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to curb the recurring attacks on major roads, with many noting that highways in Zamfara have become no‑go zones after dark.
As of press time, the Zamfara State Government had not issued an official statement on the attacks, and the police command had yet to release any information regarding the suspects. The massacre adds to a string of deadly incidents in the state, which has become a hotspot for terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s North‑West geopolitical zone. Just days earlier, on May 8, a separate attack on a community in Anka Local Government Area left six people dead and six others injured after an improvised explosive device detonated in the area.
The killing of 30 people in a single day, including local security volunteers who were on the front lines protecting their communities, has brought fresh anguish to a region already exhausted by years of violence. The Zamfara Community Protection Guard, which lost one of its personnel, has called for reinforcements and for the military to adopt a more aggressive posture along the state’s highways. “We cannot keep burying our people while the bandits roam free,” a community leader said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
As the families of the 30 victims prepare for mass burials, the people of Zamfara State are left with the same question they have asked after every attack: when will the highways be safe again? For now, the roads remain silent under the watch of armed guards, and travelers continue to take their chances, knowing that at any bend, death might be waiting.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments