How bandits killed 8 Zamfara’s security guards, abducted 11 villagers

Bandits have killed eight personnel of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) while they were protecting farmers working on a farm in Jangege village, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The incident occurred on Friday when Garba Dogo, a well-known member of the community guards, and his colleagues arrived at his farm around […]

Bandits have killed eight personnel of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) while they were protecting farmers working on a farm in Jangege village, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The incident occurred on Friday when Garba Dogo, a well-known member of the community guards, and his colleagues arrived at his farm around 8am to provide security for some labourers he had hired to work there.

It was gathered that at about 11, while the labourers were busy with their tasks, a group of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the farm and began shooting indiscriminately.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said Dogo and his team engaged the attackers in a gunfight but eventually ran out of ammunition, which allowed the bandits to capture Dogo and eight others alive and kill all of them.

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“They did not kill them with guns, but rather with cutlasses. They cut all of them into pieces. This is our first time seeing this kind of heartless murder in this village.

“Of course, we have witnessed several banditry attacks in this village, but this is the worst we have ever seen. These bandits are heartless; anybody who can kill his fellow human being in this way is heartless,” he said.

Another resident of Jangebe, who also pleaded anonymity, said the bandits were angry with Dogo due to his immense contribution in the ongoing fight against banditry, and that was why they ambushed and killed him in that manner.

He said, “The bandits have given an order that anybody who wants to cultivate his farm must pay tax to them, but Dogo refused to comply with their directive and instead invited his colleagues to protect the labourers that he hired to work on his farm.

“We suspect that some informants among us informed the bandits about Dogo’s plan; otherwise, the bandits would never know anything about the plan. They started the work as early as 8 and  expected to round up by noon.

“Traditionally, the bandits don’t operate around these hours; their prime time for operation is either late evening or at night. But because they were informed about Dogo’s plan, they stormed the farm and killed their victims around 11am.”

According to a resident who requested anonymity, the late arrival of soldiers allowed the bandits to escape the scene unscathed.

The source explained that although the military was alerted during the gunfight between the bandits and the CPG personnel, soldiers did not arrive until about an hour after the assailants had fled.

He further said that by the time a military fighter jet arrived, the bandits were already on the run.

“We learnt that when the bandits realised they were being pursued by the fighter jet, they split into two groups-one heading towards Wuya village and the other towards Bagega,” he said.

“However, because the bandits are aware of the military base in Bagega town, the group that initially moved in that direction changed course, bypassing the town through Kawaye village and entering the notorious Dawan Giya Forest.

“Although the military jet managed to kill some of the attackers, their decision to split up limited the troops’ success, as only a few bandits were neutralised,” he added.

 

Notorious bandit leader Dankarami linked to attack

According to some locals, the deadly attack in Jangebe was suspected to have been carried out by the notorious bandits’ leader, Dankarami.

A resident who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said Dankarami is believed to be behind most of the attacks in Jangebe and its surrounding areas.

“Dankarami operates between Birnin Magaji and Zurmi local government areas of Zamfara State. We learnt he recently relocated from the Zurmi area due to ongoing military offensives in the Zurmi, Anka, and Sabon Birni axis,” the source said.

The local added that Dankarami has been carrying out attacks in Sabon Birni, Dauran, and other villages in Zurmi LGA that border Sabon Birni LGA.

“This particular attack in Jangebe was a targeted one. Their main objective was to kill Garba Dogo, and they succeeded,” he said.

Meanwhile, a woman reportedly died of shock upon learning that her elder brother was among the people killed in the farm attack.

She was said to have slumped and died shortly after receiving the tragic news.

11 villagers abducted in Jangebe after deadly attack

Daily Trust gathered that following the killing of eight Community Protection Guards (CPG) and vigilante members, bandits proceeded to Jangebe village, where they abducted 11 residents.

A resident of Jangebe, who spoke with our reporter over the phone, said, “Although many villagers fled after hearing about the brutal attack on labourers at the farm, the bandits still found a few people in the village and abducted 11 of them.”

As of Sunday, the source added, there had been no word from the kidnappers.

“We have not heard anything from the bandits. They haven’t contacted the families of those abducted, and no one knows whether they are still alive or have been killed. The bandits are angry with the people of Jangebe, so there is no certainty about the fate of those taken,” he said.

Local authorities confirm 9 deaths

The Chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government Area, Alhaji Yahaya Yari, has confirmed the death of nine individuals following the recent bandits’ attack in Jangebe.

Yari said, “The CPG personnel were protecting labourers on a farm when the bandits suddenly stormed the area and engaged them in a gun battle. Also, a woman, whose elder brother was among those killed, slumped and died upon receiving the news. She died from shock.”

He added that all nine victims were buried according to Islamic rites on the same Friday they died.

When asked about steps being taken to prevent such attacks in the future, Yari said: “I had a lengthy discussion with top military authorities in Gusau. They assured me of their commitment to protect the lives of our people. We have re-strategised our approach in Talata Mafara, and by God’s grace, such an incident will not happen again-not just in Jangebe, but across the entire local government area.”

Yari also called on residents not to be discouraged in the ongoing fight against banditry.

“People should continue to provide useful information to security agencies. Security is everyone’s responsibility, and we must support the efforts by sharing intelligence that can lead to successful operations against the bandits,” he urged.

 

Police confirm 9 deaths

The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Maikaba, has confirmed that nine people, including a woman, died during the attack in Jangebe village.

According to the police commissioner, the Community Protection Guards (CPG) personnel were at the farm of one of their members, who had been injured in a previous bandit attack and was unable to cultivate the land on his own.

“His colleagues mobilised themselves to assist him on the farm. Unfortunately, the bandits got wind of their plan, raided the farm, and killed eight of them, including the injured farm owner who insisted on joining his colleagues despite his condition,” Maikaba said.

He added that the police and the Zamfara State Government are working together to prevent similar attacks.

“The CPG personnel will soon undergo another round of training to equip them with modern operational techniques,” he said.

Maikaba also revealed that the police have launched a public sensitisation campaign to encourage community involvement in the fight against banditry.

“There is no place in the world where insecurity is successfully tackled without community engagement. Until affected communities support the efforts of the government and security agencies, it will be difficult to end banditry-not just in Zamfara, but across the country,” he said.