A wave of relief swept through Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Tuesday as 65 abducted residents, including the council’s vice chairman, returned safely following a violent attack by armed bandits.
The victims were released after intensive negotiations and coordinated efforts between security forces and local community leaders, sources confirmed.
“We are grateful to God and to all who worked tirelessly for their safe return,” said one community elder.
The ambush, which unfolded on January 20 in Danjibga village, escalated into a fierce confrontation.
Community Protection Guard (CPG) operatives engaged the assailants, but the clash claimed the lives of one CPG member and two residents, while two others sustained injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers torched four vehicles, including two Golf cars and two Mitsubishi Canter trucks, leaving a trail of destruction across the village.
“It was terrifying,” recounted a survivor. “We thought we might not see our families again.”
Medical teams at Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau have admitted the injured, providing critical care and monitoring the victims’ conditions.
Families reunited with the freed abductees described the return as “a blessing amid the tragedy,” highlighting the lingering fear for women and children who remain unaccounted for.