February 5, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
ZAMFARA, Nigeria — At least five civilians were killed and several others reported missing after suspected bandits ambushed residents returning from a local market in a community in Zamfara State, residents and security sources said on Thursday, underscoring persistent insecurity in parts of north-west Nigeria.
According to eyewitnesses, the attack occurred on Wednesday afternoon along a major rural road as traders and marketgoers were returning home from the weekly market in a neighbouring town. The group was ambushed by armed assailants believed to be part of bandit networks that have for years operated in the states of Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Sokoto.
Residents said the attackers opened fire at close range, killing five people instantly and injuring others before escaping into nearby forests. Several individuals who were part of the group have not yet been accounted for, and their families said they fear for their safety amid limited communication and challenging terrain.
A community leader who declined to be named told Dalena Reporters that survivors fled the scene in panic, leaving behind belongings and some of their wounded companions. The chief expressed frustration that earlier warnings about bandit movements in the area had not led to sufficient security reinforcement, and he appealed to state authorities to urgently deploy additional patrols.
The Zamfara State Government, in a brief statement, confirmed reports of the incident and condemned the violence, but did not disclose casualty numbers or further details. Authorities said security agencies are investigating the ambush and have increased patrols along major rural routes to protect commuters and traders. Local officials urged residents to remain calm and to cooperate with security forces.
Security analysts say such ambushes continue to expose challenges in securing outlying communities, particularly when highways and connecting roads pass through forested or sparsely populated terrain where bandit groups can conceal themselves and evade patrols. Past bandit attacks in Zamfara and neighbouring states have included raids on villages, kidnappings for ransom, and attacks on economic activities such as market days and farming cycles.
In recent months, the Nigerian military and police have ramped up operations in the north-west, with mixed results. Local committees and traditional leaders have sometimes negotiated peace arrangements with armed groups or facilitated disarmament initiatives, but such efforts have often proven temporary or uneven in their effectiveness.
Humanitarian advocates in the region warn that repeated attacks on everyday activities such as market attendance not only claim lives but also undermine local economies, discourage agricultural trade and force communities into cycles of displacement and fear. They are calling for a multi-layered response that combines improved security deployments, community-level early-warning systems, and investment in infrastructure to help isolate bandit strongholds.
Families of the missing have appealed for federal assistance in locating their loved ones, saying local resources are insufficient to conduct search operations over the rough terrain where the ambush occurred.
As of this report, official confirmation of the identities of the dead and the condition of those unaccounted for was pending, and security officials said they would provide updates as the investigation continues.