Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Monday abducted at least 40 worshippers during early morning prayers at Gidan Turbe village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed the incident on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, describing it as a major setback to ongoing peace efforts in the region. According to Makama, local sources reported that the attackers struck around 5:30 a.m. during the Islamic Fajr prayer, surrounding the mosque and whisking away the worshippers at gunpoint.
He added that the captives were later moved into forests around the Gohori axis of Tsafe. “The incident has thrown the rural community into confusion and despair, coming at a time when local leaders and some armed groups in Katsina and neighbouring states had reportedly entered into truces aimed at reducing attacks,” Makama wrote.
The attack underscores the fragility of ongoing peace arrangements in the North-West, where heavily armed groups continue to operate with impunity despite dialogue initiatives. Makama noted that the bandits lack a central command structure, making negotiations in one state ineffective against attacks in others such as Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna.
As of press time, there has been no official confirmation or statement from security authorities in Zamfara State regarding the abduction.
