The gunmen also abducted 10 villagers and stole at least eight cows before fleeing to an unknown location.
Bandits have killed one person, abducted at least 10 others and rustled several cattle in a fresh overnight attack on communities in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack reportedly occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on Monday when a large number of gunmen, firing sporadically, stormed Gidan Yawa and Lamuntani villages through the Gulubba District, throwing residents into panic.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed the incident on Tuesday via his X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to him, a 32-year-old resident, Abdullahi Sani, was shot dead during the raid.
The gunmen also abducted 10 villagers and stole at least eight cows before fleeing to an unknown location.
Earlier on Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that gunmen abducted a police officer and three other travellers along the Gusau–Sokoto highway in Zamfara State.
The abduction reportedly occurred last Friday at about 1:10 p.m. in Maradun Local Government Area, when heavily armed men blocked the busy highway near Gidan Kano village and forcibly seized four individuals from their vehicle.
Meanwhile, the attackers, who operated in broad daylight, mounted a roadblock on the highway.
According to Makama, one of the abducted persons has been identified as Police Constable Gaddafi Faruku.
However, the identities of the remaining three victims have not yet been made public.
According to Makama, the abducted persons were taken to an undisclosed location by the assailants, who are believed to be part of bandit groups terrorising communities and highways across Zamfara and neighbouring states.
He added that security agencies have launched efforts to track the abductors and secure the safe release of the victims, although no breakthrough has been announced as of the time of filing this report.
Residents of the area have been urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with security operatives by providing credible information that could assist in locating the abducted victims and dismantling the criminal network behind the attack.
The Gusau–Sokoto highway has become increasingly dangerous for commuters, with repeated reports of kidnappings, ambushes and killings despite assurances by authorities that the situation is under control.
Travellers now live in constant fear, with many avoiding road journeys or travelling in convoys due to the growing menace of banditry.
Zamfara State remains one of the worst-hit states in Nigeria’s banditry crisis, as armed groups continue to operate with impunity, abducting civilians and security personnel alike while demanding huge ransoms for their release.