Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed that its operatives, in collaboration with the military, killed 17 suspected bandits during a fierce gun battle following a deadly attack on motorists along the Gusau-Funtua Federal Highway.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at about 4:05 p.m. near Unguwar Chida Village in Tsafe Local Government Area. A large group of heavily armed bandits blocked the highway and opened fire on motorists and passengers.
The assailants intercepted two commercial vehicles: a Sharon vehicle and a Sokoto State Transport Authority (SSTA) bus. The driver of the Sharon vehicle, Alhaji Halilu Namadi, was shot dead, causing the vehicle to somersault. Six passengers in that vehicle—four men and two women—were also killed. On the SSTA bus, one passenger was killed, nine others sustained gunshot injuries, and eight were abducted.
The attack did not end there. At about 6:45 p.m., the same group of bandits attacked Magazu Village in Tsafe LGA. A stray bullet struck a 35-year-old resident, Lawali Muazu, who is now receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Tsafe.
In response, the Divisional Police Officer in Tsafe mobilised the Police Violence Crime Response Unit and evacuated the deceased and injured to the General Hospital, Tsafe. The remains of the deceased were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary, where they are awaiting identification.
In a swift follow-up operation, police and military operatives tracked the fleeing bandits to the Funtua-Gusau highway, where the hoodlums attempted to loot a trailer carrying food items. On sighting the approaching security forces, the bandits attempted to flee. The operatives engaged them in a gun battle, resulting in the neutralisation of 17 bandits. Several others escaped with gunshot injuries.
The Zamfara State Police Command has not confirmed whether any weapons, ammunition, or other items were recovered from the killed bandits. Joint patrols comprising the police, military, Community Protection Guards, hunters, and local vigilantes have been deployed along the highway and other vulnerable locations. Security operatives are continuing search-and-rescue operations to locate and free the eight abducted passengers.
The Commissioner of Police has directed personnel to sustain aggressive clearance operations along identified bandit routes and hideouts. The police have urged residents and commuters to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security formation.
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