In a dramatic turn of events, residents of Matusgi village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State successfully repelled a bandit attack, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 bandits. The villagers, who had endured repeated assaults from these criminal groups, fought back with a determination that left the attackers overwhelmed.
The confrontation occurred on Wednesday around 2 p.m. when a gang of bandits, arriving on motorbikes, attempted to invade the village with the intent to abduct locals. A resident, who requested anonymity, explained that this was not the first time the villagers had confronted the bandits, but it was the first time they had been able to inflict such heavy casualties on them.
“The bandits began their attack by firing sporadically to intimidate us. However, we had been alerted in advance and were prepared when they arrived,” the resident said.
The villagers, armed with locally-made firearms and traditional weapons, swiftly organized themselves to counter the attackers. Some residents engaged the bandits directly, while others strategically encircled the area to cut off any escape routes. After an hour of intense fighting, the bandits were forced to retreat, leaving behind 10 of their dead comrades.
Not content with this initial victory, the residents regrouped and laid an ambush for the returning bandits. When the attackers reappeared, the villagers launched another fierce assault, ultimately killing a total of 37 bandits.
The District Head of Matusgi, Alhaji Ciroma Muhammad, confirmed the incident, although he noted that the victory came at a cost, with three villagers losing their lives during the clash. He added that neighbouring villages reported seeing the bandits carrying away the bodies of their fallen members on motorbikes.
“This is the 13th time bandits have attacked this village. Three weeks ago, the bandits kidnapped 23 people, mostly women. They carried out the operation quietly, without firing any shots until after they had left. We only became aware of their departure when they fired a few shots in the distance,” Alhaji Muhammad revealed.
He further explained that the bandits had demanded a ransom of N150,000 per person for the release of the kidnapped villagers. Despite the payment, only seven of the abducted women were released, with the remaining hostages still in captivity.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Kaduna State government reported that troops on patrol had neutralized eight bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. According to Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the troops encountered the bandits in the Kampanin Doka area and engaged them in a firefight, killing seven on the spot.
During a subsequent search of the area, the troops recovered several items, including three AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, 120 rounds of ammunition, six motorcycles, and two radio sets. The troops later encountered additional bandits in the Gayam area, where they neutralized one more bandit before the others fled with gunshot wounds.