Terrorists kill 20 in three-hour Zamfara rampage as soldiers, police flee

At least 20 residents were killed and several others wounded during a three-hour daylight terrorist attack on six communities in Zamfara State’s Talata Mafara Local Government Area on Wednesday, with survivors accusing nearby soldiers and police officers of fleeing their posts instead of intervening.

They attacked at 2 p.m. They left at 5 p.m. For three hours, no security operative came.

Heavily armed terrorists launched a brazen daylight assault on multiple communities in the Sauna District of Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Wednesday, killing no fewer than 20 residents, rustling large numbers of livestock and forcing villagers to flee into surrounding bushes — all while security forces stationed nearby allegedly abandoned their posts.

As exclusively reported by SaharaReporters, a survivor described the horror in stark terms: “The police and the soldiers who are close by ran away for their own lives, leaving the residents completely at the mercy of the terrorists. Nobody came to protect us while the terrorists moved from one community to another.”

The attackers first targeted Sauna town but were repelled by local vigilantes in a gun battle. Undeterred, they redirected their assault to surrounding villages — Zauren Goro, Tulluwa, Unguwar Shanu, Tsangaya, Tudun Namali and Tungar Dahiru — where they encountered little or no resistance.

One resident told Iconic FM Nigeria: “In my presence alone, more than 20 bodies were recovered. The search is still ongoing because many farmers were working on their farms when the terrorists invaded. We believe more bodies may still be found.” At least five wounded survivors are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Talata Mafara.

Victims were being buried Thursday morning in accordance with Islamic rites as communities mourned.

The attack drew swift condemnation from Amnesty International, which described it as further evidence that Nigeria’s security strategy in Zamfara has collapsed. “The gunmen attacked the village and went shooting at close range at any adult found working on his farm. This is yet another proof that whatever security strategy adopted to deal with the situation in Zamfara is not working,” the organisation stated.

Zamfara communities have long complained of delayed or absent security responses to distress calls, alleging attacks routinely last hours before help arrives — if it arrives at all.