Bandits have killed three soldiers during an attack on construction workers on the Funtua-Gusau highway. The soldiers were escorting foreign engineers working on the road when the bandits attacked them.
The attack occurred on Thursday around 9am at Yandoton-Tsafe in the Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.
Daily Trust learned that it was the second attack by bandits on the same road yesterday. The first attack took place in Kucheri village, also in Tsafe LGA, where a group of armed bandits blocked the Funtua-Gusau highway, killed several people and abducted undisclosed number of travellers.
Local sources indicated that both attacks, which occurred simultaneously around 9am, were believed to be orchestrated by Dan Yusuf, a notorious bandit leader and younger brother of the infamous bandit Ado Alliero.
A resident of Kucheri, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported that the bandits arrived on motorbikes and concealed themselves in nearby bushes. They then ambushed vehicles at a damaged section of the road just a few meters from Kucheri village.
“Drivers slow down at this damaged portion of the road, which the bandits exploited to attack the vehicles and abduct passengers,” the source said.
In the second attack, which targeted construction workers at Yandoton-Tsafe, the bandits, also on motorbikes, opened fire on the workers.
Ibrahim Umar, a Tsafe resident, stated that despite attempts by the soldiers to repel the attack, about seven people, including the soldiers, were killed. It was also reported that a foreign engineer was abducted during the assault.
The Funtua-Gusau highway has recently become a dangerous route for travellers and other road users. The 50km stretch between Funtua and Tsafe is colloquially known as “Israel” among drivers, a name reflecting the ongoing banditry, including frequent abductions and attacks on surrounding communities.
The area, which spans villages and towns in both Katsina and Zamfara states, includes Sheme, Kanfanin Mai-Lafiya, Unguwar Boka, and Yankara in Katsina State, as well as Danwuri, Wanzamai, Kucheri, Unguwar-Chida, Magazu, Gidan-Giye and Tsafe in Zamfara State.
Despite the establishment of additional military checkpoints between Kamfanin-Mailafiya and Tsafe, bandits continue to perpetrate their crimes in the area almost daily.
In a related development, bandits attacked Kurfi General Hospital in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State late Wednesday night, shooting a watchman and abducting four women, including the wife of a health worker stationed at the facility.
According to sources, the bandits initially arrived unarmed around 10:45 PM but later became aggressive when confronted by the watchman. As the watchman attempted to lock the hospital gate to prevent their entry, additional armed bandits, who had been waiting outside, scaled the fence and shot him in the stomach. Although the guard was initially thought to be dead, he received first aid and was subsequently transported to a hospital in Katsina.
The bandits targeted Mustapha Hamza, a casual staff member of the hospital who was on duty at the time. Fortunately, Hamza managed to escape, but his wife, who was accompanying him, was abducted. Hamza is an anesthetist and had been called in for a surgical procedure. His wife’s presence at the hospital was due to her discomfort being alone at home.
The attack marks a significant breach of security in Kurfi, a town previously known for its fortified defenses against banditry, largely due to local vigilante groups supported by community leaders. However, the fortification weakened with the collapse of the vigilante group, partly attributed to political differences among prominent residents, leaving the town vulnerable to such attacks.
Recently, a nursing mother and her twin children were abducted, with the mother and twins released after a ransom of N3.5 million was paid. The young boy, known as AK, remains in captivity, with bandits demanding an additional N1.5 million for his release.
Local residents have expressed concerns about informants who might have contributed to the recent spike in attacks. Although there has been no official statement from security agencies, Kurfi Council chairman, Mannir Shehu Wurma, confirmed the incident and assured that the council is addressing the situation.
Meanwhile, suspected bandits ambushed and killed two individuals in Maleka village, part of the Kakangi community in Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State, on Thursday.
The attack occurred between 10 and 11am, according to local sources. The victims were later taken to Jibril Mai Gwari Memorial Hospital in Birnin Gwari town, where they were pronounced dead.
Maleka village is situated near the borders of Niger and Zamfara states. It was reported that the bandits had spent the night in the abandoned village, which is located approximately two kilometres from Kakangi town.
Ishaq Usman Kasai, Chairman of the Birnin Gwari-Niger Inter-Boundary Group of Rural Communities (BGNI-GRC), confirmed the incident but provided no additional details.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for comment.
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