Bandits Kill 30 Travellers In Zamfara Highway Ambush

Bandits have ambushed travelers along the Magami–Dansadau highway in Zamfara State Sunday evening, killing 30 people in one of the deadliest attacks on the route in 2026.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the, Zamfara Community Protection Guard, Malam Abubakar Gummi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, the attackers targeted motorists and commuters between Magami and Gusau, opening fire on vehicles in a coordinated ambush.

Malam Abubakar confirmed that 21 civilians, 8 local hunters, and one community protection guard were killed in the assault.

Gummi said security operatives and community guards engaged the bandits in a gun duel following the attack.

“During the gun duel, scores of bandits have been neutralised,” he stated, though he did not give an exact figure for militants casualties.

The Magami–Dansadau highway has long been a flashpoint for banditry in Zamfara South, with frequent attacks on travelers, farmers, and traders despite ongoing military and community-led operations in the area.

The route links several rural communities to Gusau, the state capital, making it a vital but dangerous corridor for movement and commerce.

Security sources said the victims’ bodies have been recovered and taken to nearby health facilities, while survivors are receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the ambush.

The Zamfara State government is yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of press time.