Open Grazing: Herdsmen Accuse Oyo Agency Of Extortion, Unlawful Seizure Of Livestock

Bandits in their large numbers have invaded and abducted over 70 villagers after killing two security operatives and unidentified number of people in Kasuwar Daji District under Kaura Namoda local government area of Zamfara State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday.

Narrating the incident, a survivor of the attack identified as Inuwa Giranto, said the bandits invaded the area at about 1:40 a.m. shooting sporadically and searching houses for their targeted victims.

He said efforts were made by the military operatives stationed in the area in collaboration with police personnel and local vigilantes to foil the attack at its early stage but failed due to the large number of the bandits and the sophisticated weapons in their possession.

Giranto said, “To our knowledge, the officer in charge of the military base had  communicated for reinforcement before the bandits retreated into the nearby forest along with unidentified number of people they had abducted.

“It was like the end of the world as the community members including halpless women and children were screaming for help; on the other side, sheep and even goats were bleating which turned the whole area into a hell for the living,” he claimed.

In a swift response by the acting deputy director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 “Operation FANSAN YAMMA”, Lt-Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kasuwan Daji, Kaura Namoda local government area of Zamfara State, decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by terrorists.

The successful defence of the base resulted in heavy casualties for the attackers, forcing them to retreat in disarray, and led to the rescue of nine abducted civilians.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:40am on 2 August 2026, when terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the military facility.