By AMINU DALHATU
The Zamfara State Police Command says it has neutralised 17 suspected bandits following a coordinated attack on motorists and passengers along the Gusau–Funtua Federal Highway in Tsafe Local Government Area of the State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement, explains that the incident occurred at about 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, near Unguwar Chida Village.
According to him, heavily armed bandits blocked the highway and opened indiscriminate fire on motorists and passengers before intercepting two commercial vehicles.
The vehicles were an unregistered Sharon vehicle driven by Alhaji Halilu Namadi of Taloka Village, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, who was travelling from Sokoto to Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory, and a Sokoto State Transport Authority bus, registration number LV 94.
The SSTA bus, driven by Sanusi Musa, a staff member of the authority’s Sokoto branch, was conveying 18 passengers towards Kaduna and Abuja.
DSP Abubakar said the Sharon vehicle driver was shot dead during the attack, causing the vehicle to lose control, somersault and veer off the road.
He added that six passengers four males and two females were also fatally shot.
Similarly, one male passenger aboard the SSTA bus was killed, while nine others sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The police spokesman said eight passengers were abducted by the attackers and taken to an undisclosed location.
He explained that upon receiving the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer in Tsafe swiftly mobilised and led the Police Violence Crime Response Unit to the scene.
The deceased and injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Tsafe, where the injured are receiving treatment, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary pending identification and contact with their relatives.
DSP Abubakar further disclosed that at about 6:45 p.m. the same day, the same group of armed bandits attacked Magazu Village in Tsafe Local Government Area.
During the attack, a stray bullet allegedly struck 35-year-old Lawali Muazu, a resident of the village.
He was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, Tsafe, where he is receiving medical attention.
In a swift follow-up operation, the police and military teams trailed the fleeing bandits to the Funtua–Gusau Federal Highway, where the suspects allegedly attempted to intercept and loot a trailer conveying food items.
The police spokesman said the bandits fled upon sighting the approaching security forces but were engaged in a gun battle.
He said the encounter resulted in the neutralisation of 17 suspected bandits, while several others sustained gunshot injuries.
The Police VCRU team and military personnel in Tsafe are currently intensifying operations to track and apprehend the fleeing members of the criminal group and rescue the abducted passengers.
The command said the security situation in the affected areas is currently under control, with joint patrols comprising the police, military, Community Protection Guards, hunters and local vigilantes deployed along the highway and other vulnerable locations.
Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
