Gusau, Nigeria – At least 37 bandits were reportedly killed in Matusgi village, located in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, after residents engaged a gang that had invaded the village with the intent to abduct locals.
According to an anonymous resident, the bandits arrived on motorbikes around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, intending to carry out abductions. The resident noted that this was not the first time the villagers had confronted bandits, but it marked the first instance where they managed to inflict significant casualties on the attackers.
The bandits initiated their attack by firing sporadically to intimidate the community. However, the residents, who had been alerted in advance, were prepared. Armed with locally-made firearms, some villagers fought back, while others used traditional weapons to encircle the area, preventing the bandits from escaping.
After an hour of intense fighting, the bandits retreated with 10 of their members reported dead. The villagers then regrouped, strategized, and set up an ambush. When the bandits returned, the villagers launched another attack, ultimately killing 37 bandits in total.
The District Head of Matusgi, Alhaji Ciroma Muhammad, confirmed the incident, stating that three villagers were killed during the clash. He also mentioned that neighboring villages reported seeing the bandits transporting the bodies of their fallen comrades on motorbikes.
“This is the 13th time bandits have attacked this village,” Alhaji Muhammad said. He recounted a previous attack three weeks ago where bandits kidnapped 23 people, mostly women, demanding a ransom of N150,000 per person. Despite the payment, only seven of the abducted women were released, with the remaining hostages still in captivity.
In a related development, the Kaduna State government reported that troops on patrol neutralized eight bandits in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed that the troops engaged the bandits during a fighting patrol in the Kampanin Doka area, killing seven on the spot. Another bandit was neutralized in the Gayam area, while others fled with gunshot wounds.