Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The afternoon sun was still high over the Tsafe–Funtua Road on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, when Hon. Engr. Yahaya Garba, the immediate past Chairman of Gusau Local Government Area and Managing Director of the Zamfara State Water Board, became the latest victim of the banditry that has turned Zamfara's highways into corridors of terror. Armed men intercepted his vehicle, dragged him away, and left his driver bleeding from injuries sustained during the attack. The abduction, which was confirmed by conflict reporter Bakatsine, has once again exposed the deepening security crisis in Zamfara State, where even senior government officials are no longer safe on the roads that connect communities to the rest of the country.
According to reports, Garba was travelling along the Tsafe–Funtua road when the bandits attacked his vehicle and abducted him. The driver sustained injuries during the assault, though details of his condition were not immediately available. The incident has raised fresh concerns over the security of major roads in Zamfara State, where attacks and abductions have continued to pose a serious threat to motorists, passengers and residents alike. The Tsafe–Funtua axis is a critical route linking parts of Zamfara and Katsina states, making insecurity along the highway a major concern for the movement of people and goods.
The abduction of a former local government chairman and the head of the state's water board is a stark reminder that no one is immune to the violence that has gripped Zamfara State. Garba, a respected engineer and public servant, had served his community as chairman of Gusau LGA before his appointment as Managing Director of the Zamfara State Water Board. His kidnapping has sent shockwaves through the state's political and administrative circles, with many questioning how bandits could operate with such impunity on a major highway in broad daylight.
Bakatsine, the conflict reporter who disclosed the incident, described the development as "deeply worrying," stressing that the increasing frequency of attacks on roads in Zamfara State requires urgent intervention from the relevant authorities. "This afternoon, bandits reportedly abducted Hon. Engr. Yahaya Garba, the immediate past Chairman of Gusau LGA and Managing Director of the Zamfara State Water Board, along the Tsafe–Funtua road, and injured his driver," Bakatsine stated. He further warned that the road has become a danger zone, where travellers are repeatedly exposed to attacks and abductions.
The Tsafe–Funtua road has long been a hotspot for bandit activity. In recent weeks, the highway has witnessed a series of attacks, including the abduction of scores of travellers and the killing of security personnel. On August 15, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 33 abducted passengers along the Funtua-Gusau axis, but the success of that operation has done little to deter the bandits, who continue to operate with impunity. On August 7, another traveller was abducted on the same highway, and on July 25, bandits abducted the Chairman of Bungudu LGA in a separate incident. The pattern is clear: Zamfara's roads are becoming increasingly dangerous, and the government's response has been woefully inadequate.
The abduction of Garba comes just days after troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA intensified operations in Tsafe LGA, responding to reports of terrorists attempting to abduct motorists around Magazu Village. On August 17, troops foiled abduction attempts and rescued seven civilians in Bukkuyum and Tsafe LGAs. But despite these efforts, the bandits have continued to strike, demonstrating their ability to evade security forces and target even high-profile individuals.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Zamfara State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful, as he had not responded to requests for comments as of the time of filing this report. The police have yet to issue an official statement on Garba's abduction, and details surrounding the attackers and their demands remain unclear.
The reported abduction has renewed calls for stronger security measures along major highways in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West. Residents and community leaders have urged the federal and state governments to deploy more security personnel, establish checkpoints and conduct regular patrols on the Tsafe–Funtua road to protect travellers from recurring attacks. They have also called for a more comprehensive approach to tackling banditry, including addressing the root causes of the insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment and the proliferation of illegal weapons.
For the family of Hon. Engr. Yahaya Garba, the wait for news of his release has begun. His wife, children and loved ones are left to grapple with the agonising uncertainty of his fate, praying for his safe return while fearing the worst. The abduction of a public servant who dedicated his life to serving his community is a tragedy that should never have happened. It is a stark reminder of the failure of the state to protect its citizens and the growing impunity of criminal networks that have turned Zamfara into a theatre of bloodshed and fear.
How many more people have to be kidnapped or attacked on these roads before something serious is done to protect them? The question hangs over Zamfara State like a dark cloud, and for the people of Gusau and the countless travellers who risk their lives on the Tsafe–Funtua road, the answer cannot come soon enough.
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