Police Confirm Killing of 10 in Bandits’ Ambush Along Gusau–Magami Road

The Nigeria Police Force in Zamfara State has confirmed the killing of 10 persons following a bandits’ ambush along the Gusau–Magami road. The victims included traders, local hunters, and an operative of the Community Protection Guards (CPG).

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Yazid Abubakar, disclosed that the attack claimed the lives of traders, hunters, and a CPG operative, revising earlier reports which had put the casualty figure at nine.

The incident reportedly occurred as traders were returning from a local market under the escort of local hunters. A community source said the victims included traders from different communities, as well as a commercial motorcyclist who was caught in the crossfire while heading home.

Security sources indicated that the attack might have been averted if the group had waited for a formal military escort. A military official, who spoke anonymously, revealed that the Armoured Personnel Carrier usually deployed for such operations was undergoing routine maintenance in Gusau at the time of the incident.

Eyewitnesses said local hunters and CPG operatives engaged the bandits in a gun battle, inflicting casualties on the attackers, who reportedly evacuated their dead and wounded before retreating into the forest.

The attack underscores the persistent insecurity in the Gusau–Magami–Dansadau axis, which has experienced years of banditry, kidnappings, and communal violence.