In a most horrific attack against peace efforts in northwest Nigeria, armed bandits have reportedly abducted nearly 40 worshippers from a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.
The fresh attack unfolded during early morning prayers on Monday, around 5:30 am when the victims were engaged in dawn (Subh) prayers.
The gunmen reportedly stormed the mosque, encircled it, and herded the worshippers away at gunpoint before marching them to waiting motorcycles hidden outside the village.
The abductors then transported the captives deep into the dense forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe, leaving the community gripped by fear and uncertainty.
Sources had it that while there’s negotiation with bandits in Katsina State, they terror continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna States respectively.
The incident, which occurred barely a day after reports of truces between local leaders and armed groups in neighboring Katsina State, underscores the precarious nature of ongoing dialogue efforts to curb banditry in the region.
Just over the weekend, bandit kingpin Ado Allero and dozens of armed factions pledged to lay down their weapons following major negotiations in Faskari, Katsina, raising hopes for reduced violence.
However, this latest strike highlights how fragmented bandit networks operate without centralized command, allowing attacks to spill across state lines despite localized agreements.
”The bandits have no command, structure, or control,” a local source told journalists. “You can negotiate with bandits in Katsina while they continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna State.”
The source’s remarks echo long-standing concerns about the lack of coordination among these heavily armed groups, which continue to terrorize rural areas with impunity even as federal and state governments pursue peace talks.
The rural community of Gidan Turbe, already reeling from frequent bandit incursions, has been plunged into despair. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as worshippers scattered in panic, but the bandits’ superior firepower and tactical approach—leaving motorcycles out of sight to avoid detection—ensured most could not escape.
“They came silently on foot, surrounded the mosque, and took everyone before anyone could raise an alarm,” one resident recounted anonymously.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official confirmation or response from Zamfara State security authorities, including the police command, Community leaders have appealed for urgent intervention from both state and federal governments, warning that without swift action, such attacks could erode trust in peace processes and lead to further instability.
The Zamfara Police Command was yet to issue a statement, but local vigilante groups are reportedly mobilizing to track the bandits in the forests.
This abduction comes amid a surge in bandit activities across the North West, where similar incidents have repeatedly exposed the fragility of reconciliation efforts. Analysts warn that without a more comprehensive strategy addressing the root causes of banditry—such as poverty, arms proliferation, and weak governance—these truces may prove short-lived, perpetuating a cycle of violence that has claimed countless lives and displaced thousands.
