In a devastating security breach, armed bandits have unleashed terror on Fegin Baza village in Zamfara State, killing three people and abducting sixty-four residents just one day after the Minister of State for Defence visited the area.
Deadly Attack Follows High-Profile Security Visit
The violent incident occurred on Saturday, November 15, 2025, in Tsafe Local Government Area, casting serious doubts on the effectiveness of recent security measures. The attack came barely twenty-four hours after Minister Bello Mohammed Matawalle concluded his visit to Zamfara State, where he had announced the deployment of fresh troops and promised decisive action against criminals.
According to eyewitness accounts, more than thirty armed bandits on motorcycles stormed the community, blocking the Gusau-Funtua Road and opening fire on vehicles. The operation lasted approximately fifteen minutes but left lasting trauma on the rural community.
Prominent APC Chieftain Among the Dead
Among those killed in the brutal attack was Umaru Moriki, a respected chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Sarkin Fadan Moriki was reportedly gunned down while traveling to Kaduna along the Gusau-Tsafe Road near Fegin village.
Survivor Abdulrahman Ahmad Dole provided harrowing details of the assault, revealing that the bandits began shooting immediately after overtaking motorists, including the convoy of the state Commissioner of Police. This brazen attack on a major highway demonstrates the audacity of criminal elements operating in the region.
The human cost extends beyond the immediate casualties. Four other victims sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and were rushed to Tsafe General Hospital for emergency treatment. Medical personnel are working to stabilize their condition amid growing concerns about the healthcare system's capacity to handle such emergencies.
Mass Abduction Includes Women and Children
The abduction of sixty-four villagers represents one of the largest mass kidnappings in recent months. Disturbingly, children and women were among those taken to unknown destinations, raising fears about their safety and wellbeing. Local sources indicate the bandits have not made contact with families or authorities regarding ransom demands.
This attack occurs against the backdrop of increasing bandit violence across northwestern Nigeria. Just recently, bandits killed sixteen vigilantes and abducted more than forty residents in multiple attacks across Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State. Several communities in that region have been deserted as residents flee to safer settlements.
The timing of this latest assault is particularly embarrassing for security forces, coming immediately after Minister Matawalle's assurance that "Zamfara will no longer bow to fear" and promises that troops would "deal decisively with criminals." The gap between official rhetoric and ground reality appears to be widening, leaving residents increasingly vulnerable.
Local communities are now calling for urgent intervention from both state and federal authorities to secure the release of the abducted individuals and prevent further attacks. The pattern of violence suggests coordinated criminal operations that continue to outmaneuver security deployments in the region.
