Heavily armed suspected terrorists have attacked communities around Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, and blocked portions of the Gusau-Sokoto road, leaving travellers stranded and reportedly abducting commuters.
The latest attacks occurred around Nasarawa in the Damba community, on the outskirts of Gusau, as well as at Kuka Mairahhu in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports obtained by Street News Reporters, the attackers invaded the Nasarawa area at about 1am, positioning themselves at strategic points and firing sporadically during the operation.
A resident said the attackers entered her compound after jumping over the fence while gunshots were heard in the area. She said nobody in the house was harmed, but several bullet marks were later found around the compound.
Another resident said the suspected terrorists moved from house to house, knocking on doors and asking residents about specific individuals. When they were told that the people they were looking for were not present, the attackers allegedly began shooting sporadically.
The attackers were also said to have discussed plans to rustle animals in the area before abandoning part of the plan after discovering that some of the animals were located across the main road.
The suspected terrorists later moved towards a nearby school and reportedly targeted small animals in the Nasarawa area.
Their operation was eventually disrupted after members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and the police arrived and engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee from the area.
A resident, however, alleged that the attackers had passed through an army security checkpoint located near Nasarawa along the cemetery without being stopped. The allegation has not been independently verified.
The security concerns were compounded by a separate incident along the Gusau-Sokoto road, where heavily armed attackers reportedly blocked the highway around Kuka Mairahhu in Talata Mafara Local Government Area.
Travellers caught in the blockade were reportedly forced to stop their vehicles, with some commuters seeking refuge at a military base in Fangaltama.
One traveller said the attackers positioned themselves in such a way that vehicles were trapped from both the front and rear, leaving commuters stranded despite the presence of a military checkpoint.
Another female traveller described the incident as traumatic, saying her vehicle developed a fault while the road was under the control of the attackers.
She said that after travellers believed the road had been reopened, two vehicles that proceeded ahead of them were reportedly attacked, with the doors of the vehicles later found open while the occupants could not be located.
The reported abductions have heightened concerns over the safety of motorists and other commuters using the Gusau-Sokoto highway, one of the major routes connecting Zamfara with neighbouring Sokoto State.
The development also comes amid continued security challenges across Zamfara, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted communities, highways and travellers.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal said on Monday that his administration was working to improve security response times, particularly in areas facing persistent attacks. He identified Tsafe as one of the areas with serious security challenges and said the government was considering improved road access and the use of drones to assist security agencies.
The governor’s comments followed renewed security incidents across the state, including attacks on travellers and communities and recent military operations aimed at rescuing abducted persons.
As of the time of this report, there was no official statement from the Zamfara State Police Command or the military providing details on the number of people abducted in the latest Gusau-Sokoto road incident or confirming casualties.
Security agencies are expected to intensify patrols and surveillance along the affected routes as authorities continue efforts to prevent further attacks and restore safe movement for residents and travellers.
