At least 16 farmers were killed and 13 others injured after armed bandits attacked farmlands in Goron Namaye district of Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
The Chairman of Maradun Local Government, Hon. Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers, who operated in large numbers, carried out the deadly assault on Friday, June 12, 2026.
A resident, Dan Inna Gora, said he counted no fewer than 17 bodies following the attack, while 13 people sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital for treatment.
According to Gora, the bandits’ leader had previously issued a warning to residents of Goron Namaye, instructing them to stay away from their farms during the current farming season.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama also confirmed the attack, revealing that troops of the Joint Task Force Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Sector 2, alongside local vigilantes, responded after receiving a distress call.
Sources said personnel stationed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Faru received reports at about 10:40 a.m. that armed bandits were attacking villagers working on their farms in the Gora area.
The troops immediately mobilised to the scene in collaboration with local vigilantes. However, by the time they arrived, the attackers had already fled into a nearby forest.
Security forces subsequently pursued the bandits along their escape route in an attempt to intercept them, but no contact was established.
Preliminary reports indicate that an unspecified number of residents were also abducted during the attack, although authorities have yet to determine the exact figure.
In response to the incident, troops intensified patrols and security operations across the area to prevent further attacks and reassure affected communities.
Security sources said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing bandits, secure the release of those abducted, and restore stability in the area.
