In Matusgi village, located in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, at least 37 bandits were reportedly killed after a fierce confrontation with residents on Wednesday, August 28.
The bandits, who arrived on motorbikes around 2 p.m. with the intention of abducting residents, were met with significant resistance from the community.
Reports indicate that the bandits began their attack by firing sporadically to intimidate the villagers. However, the residents, having been alerted in advance, were prepared for the assault.
Armed with locally-made firearms and traditional weapons, the villagers fought back and managed to encircle the area, preventing the bandits from escaping.
After an hour of intense fighting, the bandits initially retreated, with 10 of their members reported dead. The villagers regrouped, strategized, and set up an ambush. When the bandits returned, they were met with another coordinated attack, resulting in a total of 37 bandits killed.
The District Head of Matusgi, Alhaji Ciroma Muhammad, confirmed the incident and reported that three villagers were killed during the clash. He also noted that neighboring villages had observed the bandits transporting the bodies of their fallen comrades on motorbikes.
“This is the 13th time bandits have attacked this village,” Alhaji Muhammad said. He recounted a previous incident three weeks ago when the bandits quietly kidnapped 23 people, mostly women, and demanded a ransom of N150,000 per person.
Although a ransom was paid, only seven of the abducted women were released, with the remainder still in captivity.
