Gladness Gideon
Tension has gripped parts of Zamfara State following a suspected reprisal attack by armed loyalists of notorious bandit kingpin, Adamu Aliero, which left multiple structures, including a mosque and a clinic, in ruins.
The attack, which occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, targeted a village in the Keta axis and is believed to be linked to the recent killing of Aliero’s younger brother, Isuhu Yellow, and his son during a failed ambush on security forces nearly three weeks ago.
Eyewitnesses from the community said the assailants stormed the village under the cover of darkness, setting fire to several buildings but did not inflict casualties or carry out abductions.
“They only set places ablaze, including our Juma’at mosque and the local clinic,” one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, told a reporter on site.
According to the witness, the attackers razed 10 houses during an operation that lasted close to an hour before fleeing the scene.
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Earlier that same day, the armed group reportedly launched a similar assault on Tsageru village, destroying more homes in what locals believe to be a coordinated wave of retaliation.
“We don’t know what they want to achieve by burning down public facilities and homes,” the resident lamented. “Our communities have been under constant threat since the death of Isuhu Yellow. We strongly believe this is part of a wider reprisal campaign.”
Authorities have yet to issue an official response. Repeated attempts to contact the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered.
The renewed violence highlights the ongoing insecurity plaguing Zamfara, where rural communities continue to bear the brunt of violent attacks by well-armed criminal gangs. Despite sustained military operations in the region, the persistent presence of bandit groups remains a significant challenge to peace and stability.