Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Security operatives and local protection guards engaged armed bandits in a fierce gun duel on Sunday evening after dozens of travellers were attacked along the Magami–Dansadau highway in Zamfara State.
The confrontation followed a coordinated ambush on motorists and commuters travelling between Magami and Gusau, where gunmen opened fire on multiple vehicles, killing at least 30 people.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard, Malam Abubakar Gummi, the victims included 21 civilians, eight local hunters, and one member of the community protection outfit.
Gummi said security teams responded shortly after the attack and exchanged gunfire with the assailants in an attempt to repel them from the area.
“During the gun duel, scores of bandits have been neutralised,” he stated, although no exact figure was given for casualties among the attackers.
The incident is regarded as one of the deadliest attacks recorded this year along the Magami–Dansadau corridor, a route that has repeatedly witnessed violent raids by armed groups targeting travellers and farming communities.
Residents and security sources said panic spread across nearby communities as the sound of gunfire echoed through the highway corridor during the assault.
Bodies of victims were later recovered from the scene and moved to nearby hospitals and health facilities, while injured survivors were taken for medical treatment.
The Magami–Dansadau road remains a major route connecting rural communities to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
However, years of recurring bandit attacks have continued to make movement along the highway dangerous despite ongoing military offensives and local security operations.
As of the time of filing this report, the Zamfara State Government had not issued an official response to the attack.
