ZAMFARA POLICE NEUTRALIZE 17 BANDITS ON GUSAU–FUNTUA HIGHWAY, INTENSIFY RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR ABDUCTED VICTIMS
The Zamfara State Police Command has recorded a major operational success following a coordinated attack by armed bandits along the Gusau–Funtua Federal Highway, near Unguwar Chida Village in Tsafe Local Government Area.
At about 4:05pm on Monday, 25th August 2026, the Command received a distress report that a large group of heavily armed bandits had blocked the highway and opened fire on motorists and passengers.
The attackers intercepted two commercial vehicles: an unregistered Sharon car driven by Alh. Halilu Namadi of Taloka Village, Goronyo LGA, Sokoto State, who was traveling from Sokoto to Gwagwalada, FCT and
a Sokoto State Transport Authority (SSTA) bus, Reg. No. LV 94, driven by Sanusi Musa, conveying eighteen (18) passengers to Kaduna and Abuja.
During the attack, the driver of the Sharon vehicle was shot dead. The car lost control, somersaulted and veered off the road. Six (6) passengers — four males and two females — were also fatally shot.
On the SSTA bus, one (1) male passenger was killed, nine (9) others sustained gunshot injuries, while eight (8) passengers were abducted to an unknown location.
Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Tsafe immediately mobilized the Police Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the scene. The deceased and injured were evacuated to the General Hospital, Tsafe. The injured are receiving treatment, while the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary pending identification.
Later at about 6:45pm on the same day, the same bandits attacked Magazu Village in Tsafe LGA. A 35-year-old man, Lawali Muazu, was hit by a stray bullet and is currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Tsafe.
In a swift follow-up operation, joint teams of Police and military operatives trailed the fleeing bandits to the Funtua–Gusau Highway where they were attempting to attack a trailer loaded with food items.
DSP Yazid Abubakar, Police Public Relations Officer in a statement, disclosed that on sighting the security forces, the bandits attempted to escape but were engaged in a gun duel. Seventeen (17) bandits were neutralized, while several others escaped with gunshot injuries.
The VCRU and military operatives are currently conducting intensive search-and-rescue operations to apprehend the fleeing bandits and rescue the abducted passengers.
The statement also added that the Commissioner of Police has ordered sustained patrols and aggressive clearance operations along the corridor. Joint patrols involving the Police, military, Community Protection Guards (CPG), hunters and local vigilantes have been deployed to prevent further attacks and secure motorists.
The Command assures residents and commuters that all necessary measures are being taken to restore lasting security along the Gusau–Funtua Highway.
Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or security formation.
