Bandits abducted 43 worshippers from a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and 12 persons from Godai village, Bukkuyum Local Government Area. The attacks occurred despite a recent peace deal between community leaders and armed groups in neighboring Katsina State. Security experts stress that the North‑West state governments must collaborate to address the region’s insecurity effectively.
The Zamfara mosque attack took place around 5:30 a.m. during prayer. Gunmen surrounded the mosque and whisked the worshippers away toward Gahori Mountain, which locals claim is an enclave for various bandit groups operating across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states. Residents of Gidan Turbe and Tsafe say the assault has left their communities in confusion and despair, adding to a series of renewed bandit attacks in recent days.
Habibu Dogo, a resident of Gidan Turbe, described how the bandits silently surrounded the mosque and waited for the worshippers to finish prayers before abducting them. Another resident, Auwal Isa, noted that the community has been experiencing persistent banditry, with several villages under constant attack. He added that even communities that have agreements with bandits are not spared; the bandits will negotiate, collect money, and later attack at the slightest provocation.
Community leaders and security experts have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the peace deal. One expert said the agreement has not yielded positive results and emphasized the need for strong synergy between the federal and state governments to combat banditry. Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State reiterated his administration’s stance against negotiating with bandits. A security expert called for better welfare for foot soldiers fighting the bandits and the provision of superior weapons to defeat them.
The recent attacks in Tsafe are not isolated. In April, suspected loyalists of notorious bandit leader Adamu Aliero stormed Biyabiki village, burning a mosque, a primary health‑care centre, and ten houses. These incidents have left residents in distress, prompting many to call for an increased security presence and effective collaboration between the federal and state governments to address the region’s insecurity.
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