Three farmers were shot dead by armed bandits on April 23, 2025, in Zamfara State. The attack occurred in the outskirts of Damaga and Gamagiwa villages, both located in Maradun Local Government Area, as the victims were working on their farmlands.
The incident, which took place around 11:18 a.m., has sparked fresh concerns over the safety of rural communities in Zamfara, a state that has endured years of banditry, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians.
According to local sources, the farmers had gone out early in the day to tend to their crops, a routine activity that many rely on for their daily sustenance. However, their morning turned deadly when a group of heavily armed men stormed the area and opened fire without warning. The gunmen, suspected to be part of a larger bandit group that operates in the region, killed three people on the spot before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses say the bandits arrived on motorcycles, a common method of transport used by these criminal gangs to move quickly through rural terrain. There are fears that more people may have been injured or kidnapped, although authorities have yet to confirm the full extent of the attack.
The identities of the victims have not been officially released, but local leaders say they were all residents of the affected villages and well-known members of the farming community.
Following the attack, troops under Operation Fansar Yamma—a security outfit set up to tackle banditry and terrorism in the North-West—were alerted and quickly deployed to the scene. According to security sources, patrols have been intensified in the area, and surveillance has been stepped up to track the attackers and prevent further incidents.
Military authorities have assured residents that they are doing everything possible to stabilize the situation and track down the criminals behind the killings.
“Security operatives have been mobilized to the area, and we are monitoring the situation closely,” a security source said. “Our goal is to protect lives and property and ensure that farmers can return to their daily activities without fear.”
Despite the assurances, tension remains high in the affected communities, with many residents calling for stronger action and sustained military presence to deter further attacks.
Zamfara State has been one of the hardest-hit areas in Nigeria’s prolonged battle against armed banditry. For over five years, the state has been plagued by criminal gangs who raid villages, kill residents, and abduct people for ransom.
Maradun Local Government Area, where this latest attack took place, is no stranger to violence. It is also the hometown of former Governor Bello Matawalle, and yet it has seen repeated attacks despite increased security efforts. Farmlands have become dangerous zones, and many farmers have either abandoned their crops or resorted to farming in fear, with one eye on the land and the other on the bush.
The economic impact of the crisis has been severe, as agriculture is the main source of livelihood for most people in Zamfara. With many farmers unable to safely tend their fields, food production has been disrupted, contributing to food insecurity in the region.
As farmers bury their dead and others flee their homes in fear, the people of Damaga and Gamagiwa—and indeed, many others across Zamfara—are left with a haunting question: When will it be safe to return to the land?
