Armed bandits struck again in Zamfara State on Monday, killing three members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG) in a deadly ambush near a mining site in Wanke District, Gusau Local Government Area.
The attack happened in the Tungar Arna bush around 1:00pm, when the CPG members, who were assigned to provide security at the local mining site, were suddenly ambushed by the gunmen. Reliable local sources confirmed that the heavily armed bandits opened fire on the guards without warning, killing three on the spot.
The victims have been identified as Lawali Furniture, Abdullahi Mohammed, and Umar Salisu Bakinwa. All three were said to be committed members of the CPG, a local security outfit established to support the fight against rampant banditry in the state.
The Community Protection Guards were created by the Zamfara State Government as part of ongoing efforts to boost local security and assist conventional security agencies. With banditry becoming more frequent and deadly, especially in rural areas, the state has relied increasingly on community-based security initiatives to respond quickly to threats.
Eyewitnesses said the CPG members had been stationed at the mining site for routine protection duties when the attackers stormed the area. “They were not expecting it,” said a local resident who asked not to be named for security reasons. “The bandits came out from the bush and started shooting immediately. The three guards died instantly.”
Zamfara State has become one of the hotspots of armed banditry in Nigeria’s northwestern region. Over the past few years, several communities have come under repeated attacks by armed groups who raid villages, kidnap for ransom, rustle cattle, and disrupt farming activities.
Monday’s ambush is the latest in a series of violent incidents that continue to cause fear and hardship for residents of Zamfara. The presence of mining operations in the area has often attracted the attention of criminal gangs who seek to control or extort resources through violence.
In response to the killings, security forces in the state have launched an operation to track down the attackers. Authorities say efforts have been intensified to locate and arrest the perpetrators of the ambush. However, there are concerns that the difficult terrain and the mobility of the bandits may pose a challenge to the security response.
Zamfara State Police Command and state government officials have not yet issued an official statement at the time of filing this report, but local security sources confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
The killing of the three CPG members has sparked fresh concerns about the safety of those serving in local security roles. While the community guards play a vital role in defending villages and supporting state forces, they often lack the firepower and protection needed to face well-armed bandits.
Residents of Wanke District are now calling for more support from the government, including better weapons, training, and backup for the Community Protection Guards. “These people are sacrificing their lives for the rest of us,” one resident said. “They need more help to do the job safely.”
As security challenges continue to escalate in Zamfara and across the northwest, communities and leaders are urging the federal and state governments to act quickly and decisively to end the killings and restore peace.