Bandits burn 12 family members alive in Zamfara

Twelve members of a single family have been killed after armed bandits set their home on fire during a Saturday night attack in Gidan Taba village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The attackers invaded the residence of Mallam Muhammadu Sani, a prominent local vigilante leader, in Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward at about 10:00 pm. Seven other residents were abducted during the assault.

Thirteen family members had locked themselves inside a room to evade abduction. When they refused orders to open the door, the bandits set the structure ablaze, killing Sani, his two wives, six children, and his brother’s three children.
Only the wife of Sani’s younger brother survived after escaping from the burning building.

According to reports, calls were placed to Maradun Local Government Chairman, Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, who contacted the military and police close to the affected area, but they never showed up until the victims were all confirmed dead.

Residents confirmed that police officers only visited the scene after the attack to gather information before leaving, leaving no security personnel stationed in the village.

Residents blamed the military for not intervening during the attack, stressing that Gidan Taba is located 1.5 kilometres from Maradun town, which hosts a military base, a mobile police base, and police divisional headquarters.

The Maradun Local Government Chairman, who led funeral prayers for the deceased on Sunday, described the attack as heartbreaking. He confirmed that local vigilantes later engaged the bandits in a gun battle and secured the release of some abducted residents.