GUSAU — Armed bandits have reportedly abducted several villagers and rustled an unspecified number of cattle during a daring daylight attack on Kuya village in the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, February 21, 2026, took place at approximately 12:00 p.m. when gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons invaded the community through the Kekun Waje district.
The Attack On Kuya Village
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on security in Northern Nigeria, the bandits stormed the village on motorcycles, firing sporadically into the air to displace residents.
While the exact number of victims remains unconfirmed, eyewitnesses reported that several villagers, including women and children, were forcibly taken into the nearby forest. The attackers also made away with a large number of livestock, further crippling the local economy of the farming community.
Escalating Insecurity In Zamfara
The attack on Kuya village follows a disturbing trend of renewed banditry in Zamfara State, which has seen several communities targeted in recent weeks despite ongoing military operations.
- Military Response: Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have been actively engaged in “clearance operations” across the state, but the vast, porous forests of Bungudu and Maru LGAs continue to serve as hideouts for terror groups.
- Local Resistance: Some local hunters reportedly attempted to repel the invaders, but were outgunned by the superior firepower of the bandits.
Public Criticism And Government Silence
Residents of Bungudu have expressed deep frustration over the timing of the attack, which occurred while the nation’s attention was focused on the FCT Council elections and by-elections in other states.
Critics have slammed the Zamfara State Government and federal security agencies for failing to provide adequate protection for rural communities. “While the politicians are busy sharing positions in Abuja and Kano, our people are being herded like cattle into the bush,” one community leader lamented.
As of Sunday evening, the Zamfara State Police Command has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the number of abductees or efforts to rescue the victims.
