No fewer than 30 people were killed on Sunday evening after suspected bandits ambushed travellers along the Magami–Dansadau highway in Zamfara State.
The attack, described as one of the deadliest on the route this year, reportedly occurred between Magami and Gusau as the gunmen opened fire on moving vehicles in a coordinated assault.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the spokesman for the Zamfara Community Protection Guard, Malam Abubakar Gummi, said the victims included 21 civilians, eight local hunters and one member of the community protection outfit.
According to him, security personnel and local guards engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle shortly after the ambush.
Gummi stated that several bandits were also killed during the exchange of fire, although he did not disclose the exact number of casualties recorded among the attackers.
The Magami–Dansadau road has remained a major hotspot for bandit attacks in Zamfara South, with motorists, traders and farmers frequently targeted by armed groups operating in the area.
The highway serves as a critical link between rural communities and Gusau, the state capital, but has continued to witness recurring security breaches despite ongoing military operations.
Security sources disclosed that the bodies of the victims had been evacuated to nearby health facilities, while injured survivors were receiving treatment for gunshot wounds and other injuries sustained during the attack.
As of the time of filing this report, the Zamfara State Government had yet to officially comment on the incident.
