A deadly ambush by armed bandits in Zamfara state’s Bukkuyum district has claimed the lives of 13 security personnel, including two policemen and eleven local vigilantes, officials and residents confirmed on Sunday 10th Aug 2025.

The attack took place late Friday in Adabka village, where bandits launched a raid that involved the kidnapping of several villagers.

According to sources, the security forces were pursuing the kidnappers in an attempt to rescue the abducted residents when the bandits set up a well-planned ambush.

The attackers opened fire on the team, killing the policemen and vigilantes. Local lawmaker Hamisu Faru said they have not been able to retrieve the bodies due to the bandits’ continued presence in the nearby forests.

The attack has heightened fear among residents of Adabka and surrounding communities, many of whom have fled their homes to escape further violence. These areas have been repeatedly targeted by bandits, who maintain camps in the dense forests surrounding the villages. These camps reportedly shelter thousands of militants who continue to terrorize local populations through kidnappings, raids, and looting.

Despite multiple military deployments to Zamfara state since 2015 aimed at curbing the violence, the bandit menace persists. In addition, the Zamfara state government established a militia force two years ago to assist security operations. However, the violence has continued unabated, with the bandits often outmaneuvering government forces.

Over the years, both federal and state authorities have attempted to negotiate peace deals with the bandit groups. Yet, these agreements have frequently collapsed, with the gangs returning to their violent activities shortly afterward.

Last month, a group of Muslim clerics brokered a government-supported truce with a notorious bandit leader in the Shinkafi district of Zamfara. However, many residents remain skeptical about the truce’s ability to hold, given the ongoing insecurity in the region.

Local leaders and residents continue to call for more decisive measures, including aerial bombardment, to flush out the bandits from their forest hideouts. The ongoing insecurity remains a major challenge for Zamfara state and the wider northwest region of Nigeria.