February 1, 2026 By Dalena Reporters Staff Correspondent
SILAME, Zamfara State, Nigeria — Armed terrorists reportedly launched a deadly raid on a rural community in Silame Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing four residents after they allegedly refused to comply with illegal demands for payment, local sources told Dalena Reporters.
According to community accounts collected by Dalena Reporters, the assailants arrived in the village late on Thursday night and began issuing threats to residents, demanding money and valuables. When four villagers reportedly declined to meet the bandits’ demands, the attackers carried out fatal violence against them. In separate statements from villagers, it was reported that the victims were set on fire during the attack, though specific details of the incident and official casualty confirmations remain limited.
Residents described scenes of fear and trauma as armed men moved through the community, destroying property and creating panic. Many villagers fled their homes during the violence, seeking shelter in nearby settlements or taking refuge in surrounding bushland to escape further attacks.
Silame and other parts of Zamfara State have experienced recurring insecurity in recent years, marked by frequent raids by criminal groups — often referred to locally as bandits — who engage in kidnappings, extortion, cattle rustling, and attacks on civilians. These incidents have displaced thousands of people across northwestern Nigeria and contributed to broader concerns about protection and livelihoods in rural areas.
In response to the attack, community leaders appealed to state and federal authorities to intervene and provide security reinforcements. One local elder, speaking on condition of anonymity, said villagers feel increasingly vulnerable due to repeated incursions by armed groups, stressing that ordinary residents are paying the highest cost in the ongoing security crisis.
At the time of reporting, neither the Zamfara State Government nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued official statements confirming casualty figures or detailing any security operations in response to the incident. Attempts to reach security officials for comment were not immediately successful.
Zamfara State remains one of the regions most affected by banditry in Nigeria’s northwest, where government forces have mounted various operations in recent years to counter armed groups. However, persistent attacks continue to disrupt daily life and fuel humanitarian concerns among affected populations.