The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed fresh attacks by armed bandits on Maikogo and Maiaya’a communities, heightening fears over worsening insecurity in parts of the state.
According to the police, the attacks occurred when suspected bandits stormed the two rural communities, firing sporadically and forcing residents to flee for safety amid chaos and confusion.
During the violent raid, the assailants reportedly abducted several villagers, although authorities said the exact number of victims could not be immediately confirmed as investigations are ongoing.
Residents who escaped the attacks described scenes of panic, with many villagers abandoning their homes and farmlands to seek refuge in nearby bushes and safer locations.
The police disclosed that security operatives were mobilised to the affected areas shortly after receiving distress alerts, leading to an exchange of gunfire as the attackers fled towards surrounding forest routes.
Sources within the communities claimed that the bandits operated for several hours, taking advantage of the terrain and the isolated nature of the settlements to carry out the abductions.
While no official casualty figures have been released, the attacks have left residents traumatised and disrupted daily activities, including farming and local trade.
The police command said it has launched a full-scale investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attacks and to identify those responsible.
Security patrols have since been intensified in the affected areas, with assurances that efforts are underway to rescue the abducted villagers and prevent further incursions.
Zamfara State has remained one of the flashpoints of banditry in the North-West, and authorities have renewed calls for community cooperation as security agencies work to restore peace and protect lives and property.


