In a deadly ambush near Tazame village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, bandits killed eight security personnel on Thursday.
The victims included five policemen and three soldiers who were assigned to protect a construction company, Setraco Nigeria Limited, during roadworks on the Gusau-Tsafe-Zaria road.
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An eyewitness, Mubarak Mohammed, reported that the armed assailants emerged from hiding and opened fire on the security personnel as soon as they arrived at the site. Mohammed explained that the security forces had been safeguarding the construction workers from frequent bandit attacks during the road repairs.
“The bandits laid in ambush near the road. As soon as the police and military personnel got there, they opened fire, killing several officers. There was a fierce gunfight, and while some bandits were also killed, more security personnel lost their lives,” Mohammed recounted.
The ambush caused widespread panic, with motorists fleeing into the bush for safety, abandoning their vehicles. Mohammed further stated that the construction project had been plagued by frequent bandit attacks, severely delaying its progress.
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The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the attack but could not yet provide the exact number of casualties. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Yazid Abubakar, said efforts were ongoing to gather more information from the scene of the attack, as communication with the field officers had been hindered by poor network coverage.
“We are still working to verify the number of casualties. Our officers have been in the field for rescue operations, and we will release full details once we receive their report,” Abubakar stated.
This attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Zamfara State, where banditry continues to pose a significant security threat.
