Armed bandits have burnt 12 members of a single family to death and abducted an unspecified number of residents during a brutal raid on Gidan Taba village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack occurred late Saturday night in the Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward. According to locals, the assailants stormed the community and specifically targeted the household of one Mallam Muhammadu Sani.
A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted that the victims had locked themselves inside a room in a desperate bid to escape abduction.
When the bandits discovered the family inside, they ordered them to open the door. Upon the family’s refusal, the attackers set the building on fire.
Confirming the incident to *Daily Trust*, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Hon. Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, condemned the attack as unfortunate and inhuman. He personally led the funeral prayers for the victims in Gidan Taba village on Sunday.
“What occurred in Gidan Taba village is truly heartbreaking and disheartening. A father, his wives, and young children—12 souls in total—were killed by fire,” Dosara said.
He clarified that while the victims were not directly consumed by the flames, they succumbed to the intense heat after the room was torched.
“The bandits set the room ablaze. They were not charred, as the fire was contained mostly to the roofing, but the horrifying heat inside resulted in their deaths,” he explained.
The council chairman confirmed that several other residents were abducted during the raid, though local vigilantes managed to rescue some of the captives following a gun duel with the outlaws.
“It has been confirmed to me by the vigilantes that the bandits abducted several people, but our men intercepted them and secured the release of some after an exchange of gunfire,” he said.
Dosara noted that the exact number of those still missing or abducted remains unverified due to the tense atmosphere in the community.
“Because the tension is still high, we are yet to ascertain the exact number of people abducted, but we will provide details later,” he added.
According to the chairman, the assailants used a diversionary tactic, shooting sporadically in multiple directions to confuse security forces and mask their true positions.
He disclosed that he had visited the nearest Police Mobile Force base following the attack to reinforce security cooperation and forestall future incursions.
The victims were laid to rest on Sunday morning in accordance with Islamic rites.
The tragedy has further heightened anxieties over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Zamfara State, particularly in communities along the Gusau-Sokoto highway, which have become flashpoints for frequent raids, ambushes, and mass kidnappings by armed gangs.
Distraught residents have decried the attack as barbaric, urgently calling on security agencies and the state government to scale up operations to protect vulnerable rural communities.
