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Thirteen security personnel, including two police officers and 11 vigilantes, have been killed by armed gangs in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, according to local sources. The attack took place on Friday night when bandits stormed Adabka village in Bukkuyum district, abducting several residents.
The assailants ambushed a team of police officers and vigilantes who were pursuing them in an attempt to rescue the kidnapped villagers, opening fire and killing all 13 members of the security team.
Hamisu Faru, a local lawmaker, confirmed the death toll, adding that the bodies had yet to be recovered as the attackers remained in the nearby bush. He described the scale of the threat, estimating that more than 5,000 bandits are hiding in forests around the area.
Residents said Adabka and surrounding communities have suffered repeated raids, forcing many to flee their homes. Faru called for aerial bombardments as the only effective way to dislodge the gangs from their hideouts.
Despite a long-running military campaign against the bandits, including the formation of a state-backed militia two years ago, violence has persisted. Attempts at peace deals have repeatedly failed, with agreements often broken by the gangs.
Just last month, Muslim clerics mediated a truce between the government and a notorious bandit leader in Shinkafi district. However, many locals expressed doubt that the deal would bring lasting peace.
