Zamfara Villagers Repel Bandits, Killing Over 30 in Armed Clash

On Wednesday, residents of Matusgi village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area, Zamfara State, successfully repelled an attack by armed bandits who attempted to abduct locals and steal livestock.

According to reports by DAILY POST, the villagers, having been alerted to the impending invasion, mobilized and used homemade firearms and other traditional weapons to mount a fierce defense against the assailants.

Usman Matusgi, one of the villagers, stated that, unlike previous attacks where villagers fled in fear, this time, the bandits were met with unexpected firepower from multiple angles, forcing them to retreat.

“The bandits, while struggling to escape into a nearby forest, returned fire on the locals during which three people were killed,” Matusgi recounted. “We killed over 30 of them and many were injured before they retreated; they were faced with the locally-made ammunition fired by the ambushing locals in defense of the community.”

Matusgi expressed optimism that other villages would follow their example, leading to a gradual end of banditry in the state.

“The community members should assist the military and security operatives by engaging the terrorists in operation fire for fire,” he advised. “They are human beings like us, and we should not leave everything about security only in the hands of the security operatives.”

Matusgi’s comments underscore the growing sentiment among locals to actively participate in their own defense, highlighting a shift in strategy that could influence how communities in Zamfara respond to the persistent threat of banditry.