Armed bandits have killed 12 members of a family after setting their residence on fire during a deadly raid on Gidan Taba village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Seven other residents were reportedly kidnapped during the Saturday night attack, which occurred despite desperate efforts by villagers to alert security agencies.
The tragedy comes days after five police officers were killed in a separate bandit ambush at Gidan Kano along the Gusau-Sokoto highway in the same local government area.
A resident, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen invaded the home of Mallam Muhammadu Sani around 10pm.
According to the source, 13 family members had locked themselves inside a room in an attempt to escape abduction.
The occupants reportedly included Sani, his two wives and six children, alongside his younger brother’s wife and three children.
The attackers allegedly demanded that the occupants open the door. When they refused, the gunmen set the room on fire.
Only the wife of Sani’s younger brother reportedly escaped, while the remaining 12 people died from the intense heat generated by the fire.
Residents accuse security agencies of abandoning community
Following the attack, residents reportedly contacted Maradun Local Government Chairman, Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, who attempted to mobilise security personnel.
However, villagers alleged that help did not arrive before the attackers killed the family members.
“We informed the local government chairman, Dosara, and he tried all he could to reach the security personnel. He told us he had spoken with different security formations, but nobody came to our rescue,” he said.
The resident said the community was particularly frustrated because of its proximity to military and police facilities in Maradun.
“Imagine, the distance between our village and Dosara is just about half a kilometre, while from Dosara to Maradun is about one kilometre. In total, it is just about one and a half kilometres between our village and the local government headquarters.
“There is a military base in Maradun, a mobile police base and a police headquarters, yet none of them came to our aid until the bandits burnt the 12 people alive,” he said.
Another resident confirmed that seven people were taken away by the attackers and remained in captivity when he spoke to the newspaper.
He called for stronger security measures to prevent further attacks in the area.
The resident also disputed claims that police personnel had been deployed to protect the village, saying officers only visited to gather information about the incident.
“The police only came to make inquiries, just the way you are doing now as a journalist. They asked what happened and what transpired, and we gave them the information. After that, they all left.
“As I am speaking to you, there are no police personnel in our village,” he said.
Chairman leads funeral prayers
Maradun Local Government Chairman, Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, described the deaths as a painful loss for the community.
Dosara, who led the funeral prayers for the victims on Sunday, said the attack claimed the lives of a father, his wives and their young children.
“What occurred in Gidan Taba village is heartbreaking and disheartening. A father, his wives and small children, 12 of them, were all killed by fire.”
He explained that the victims died from the extreme heat after the attackers set their room ablaze.
“The bandits set the room ablaze. They were not burnt because the fire engulfed the roofing, but the horrible heat resulted in their death,” he said.
The chairman confirmed that several residents were abducted during the attack but said local vigilantes engaged the gunmen and managed to secure the release of some captives.
He said the number of abducted residents was initially unclear because of the confusion surrounding the incident.
Dosara also alleged that the attackers deliberately fired in different directions to distract security personnel and conceal their movements.
Police confirm incident, dispute death toll
The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the attack but reported that 11 people died, one fewer than the figure provided by residents and the local government chairman.
Police spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the command received information about the incident from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Maradun.
He described the deceased family head as an active vigilante who had participated in efforts to protect the community from bandit attacks.
“The incident happened, and the people were trapped in the room by the bandits, based on the report we received from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the local government.
“The head of the family is one of the strongest vigilantes who was blocking bandits from attacking the community,” Abubakar said.
The spokesperson said additional security personnel had been deployed to the area.
Zamfara records repeated deadly attacks
The Gidan Taba killings add to a growing list of violent incidents across Zamfara State, where bandits have continued to attack communities, abduct residents and target security personnel.
Last week, five police officers were killed when gunmen ambushed security personnel travelling along the Gidan Kano-Gidan Giye axis around Maradun and Tsafe LGAs.
The officers were reportedly travelling in an 18-seater vehicle belonging to the Zamfara State Transport Authority to provide security during the APC Zamfara North senatorial rerun primary.
In another incident around Tungan Tama, telecommunications workers reportedly came under attack, leaving one person dead and several others injured.
Reports and humanitarian assessments covering May 1 to November 7, 2026, documented numerous attacks across Gusau, Anka, Maru, Talata Mafara, Tsafe, Maradun, Gummi, Bungudu, Bakura, Bukkuyum and other parts of the state.
The attacks have affected farmers, travellers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and security personnel, with several communities forced to abandon their homes.
May attacks
On May 1, an attack on Lilo village in Gusau LGA reportedly left one person dead, another injured and nine residents abducted.
Police later announced the killing of suspected bandit leader Alhaji Lawali Dandumbulu and four members of his gang by a tactical team.
On May 7, six passengers died and another six were injured when a commercial vehicle reportedly struck an improvised explosive device along Bagega-Anka Road in Anka LGA.
Three days later, at least 10 people were killed when bandits attacked a convoy of travellers escorted by security personnel along Magami-Dansadau Road in Maru LGA.
The attack reportedly occurred near Dogon Santsi, leaving several others injured and some travellers kidnapped.
Security personnel and Civilian Joint Task Force members were among the casualties.
On May 14, armed men attacked Moda village in Anka LGA, reportedly attempting to steal cattle. One person was killed and three others injured.
Police said their personnel engaged the attackers and recovered the livestock.
Another kidnapping occurred on May 18 along Jangebe-Talata Mafara Road, where three local government officials travelling for Hajj arrangements were abducted.
The victims were a councillor, a planning director and an assistant revenue officer.
The councillor and planning director were reportedly killed after their abductors rejected ransom demands. The fate of the third victim was not immediately known.
June peace effort ends in abduction
In June, about 50 elders from Magamin Diddi community in Magami/Faru ward reportedly travelled to meet a notorious bandit leader identified as Jammo.
The delegation hoped to negotiate an end to hostilities and regain access to farmlands ahead of the rainy season.
However, the peace initiative reportedly ended in a mass kidnapping after the bandit leader arrived with armed members of his gang.
About 39 members of the delegation were abducted on June 7, while 11 others were released and instructed to return home.
On June 12, at least 17 farmers were killed and 13 injured in an attack on Goran Namaye community in Maradun LGA.
Three days later, bandits attacked Gamo Gidan Bita in Gummi LGA, killing three people and injuring two others.
An assessment by the International Organisation for Migration recorded the displacement of 484 people from 101 households, including 271 children, who fled to Ubandawaki.
A subsequent assessment covering attacks on Gamo, Birnin Magaji, Falale and Birnin Tudu communities reported that 8,796 people from 1,677 households had been displaced by June 18.
The assessment did not specify the number of fatalities recorded during the incidents.
July and August violence
On July 21, at least 24 farmers were killed and several others injured in an attack on Sauna district in Talata Mafara LGA.
Four days later, three security personnel and a civilian reportedly died during an attack in Bungudu town.
The chairman of Bungudu LGA, Nura Abdullahi, and members of his family were also kidnapped, although five family members were subsequently rescued.
An IOM assessment covering attacks in Gummi LGA in August documented incidents in Galko, Baruda, Tudun Boshi, Gidan Illo, Gulle, Fass, Gusura and Yar Gusau.
The report recorded 14 deaths, 88 injuries and the displacement of 14,727 people from 2,458 households.
On August 25, at least eight travellers were killed and another eight abducted after gunmen blocked the Gusau-Funtua Highway around Unguwar Chida in Tsafe LGA.
The attackers reportedly targeted two vehicles, including a Sokoto State Transport Authority bus.
Security forces later killed 17 suspected bandits during an operation.
September and October attacks
On September 12, at least six Islamic clerics were abducted along the Dakko-Damri feeder road in Bakura LGA while travelling towards Talata Mafara.
On October 5, bandits reportedly attacked a military base in Bindin ward, Dansadau Emirate, Maru LGA, killing 14 soldiers and mobile police officers.
The attackers allegedly targeted mining sites and looted an armoury.
Several miners were reportedly killed in subsequent attacks, although the number of casualties was not established.
On October 10, at least 20 people were killed and 19 others injured when bandits attacked a convoy of traders travelling under military escort along the Gwashi-Nasarawa market route in Bukkuyum LGA.
The casualties reportedly included four soldiers, three policemen, a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer and 12 civilians.
On October 31, security forces reportedly repelled another attack, with police later recovering the bodies of more than 30 suspected bandits.
The November 2 ambush along the Gidan Kano-Gidan Giye axis subsequently claimed five police officers, although other media reports put the casualty figure at eight.
Security expert warns against targeting community defenders
Security expert Dr Kabiru Adamu described the Gidan Taba attack as a deliberate reprisal against a vigilante who had resisted bandit activities.
Adamu, Chairman of Beacon Security Consulting, told Daily Trust that the incident reflected a growing pattern in which armed groups target individuals and communities that oppose them.
“What happened in Gidan Taba was a targeted retaliation against a vigilante who stood up to bandits, and it ended with 12 members of his family killed,” he said.
He warned that such attacks were intended to discourage community resistance and weaken local security structures.
“It shows us that gunmen are now punishing community resistance. When you kill a man for defending his village, you are telling every other village not to resist. That is how community defence collapses,” he said.
Adamu said the attacks reflected increasingly organised criminal activities across the North-West, particularly along the Katsina-Zamfara-Sokoto-Kebbi corridor.
Analyst criticises politicians over insecurity
The security consultant also expressed concern that political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections appeared to be receiving more attention than the worsening insecurity.
“And yet, while this is happening, our politicians have continued their politicking unperturbed — defections, alignments and 2027 declarations — as if we are in normal times. We are not.
“Security cannot be a campaign slogan. You cannot seek to lead a people whose safety you are not even prioritising,” he said.
He called for stronger political commitment, improved protection for citizens and accountability at both federal and state levels.
“The way out is clear, but it requires political will. We must enhance public protection and hold both federal and state-level protectors to account while enhancing their protection,” Adamu said.
He recommended a security strategy focused on intelligence-led prevention, sustained protection of communities, disruption of criminal financing and rebuilding public confidence.
Adamu warned that without a change in approach, similar attacks would continue to claim innocent lives.
“If we do not act decisively and differently, this pattern will repeat, and it will continue to be innocent families who pay the price,” he added.
Analyst questions security agencies over response
Another security analyst, Dr Yahuza Getso, questioned how the attackers managed to carry out the killings and escape without being challenged by security personnel.
He called for an investigation into the distance between the village and security facilities, the accessibility of roads and the response to distress calls.
“We have a lot of unanswered questions that we are supposed to ask ourselves. What is the distance between Gidan Taba and the local government headquarters? Is there an accessible road linking the community? Was there any distress call, and if there was, what action did the security agencies take?” He asked.
Getso also urged authorities to investigate alleged support networks that provide bandits with supplies and information.
“Who is providing them with ammunition, food, shelter and other necessities? There is collaboration between those carrying arms and some community members who serve as informants,” he said.
The latest killings have intensified concerns over the security situation in Zamfara, with residents and analysts calling for urgent action to prevent further attacks and protect vulnerable communities.
