Armed bandits attacked a passenger vehicle along the Kwaren Ganuwa–Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday evening, leaving one person injured.
The attack occurred at around 6:10 p.m., when the gunmen blocked the busy rural road and attempted to abduct the passengers traveling in a Volkswagen Golf car.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle, driven by Aliyu Hassan, was transporting passengers from Gusau, the state capital, to Keta village when the incident happened.
“The bandits came out of the bush and blocked the road. They tried to stop the car and take the passengers away, but most of them managed to run into the bush and escaped,” a witness said.
However, one passenger, identified as Babangida Ibrahim, was shot during the ambush. He was quickly taken to Nakowa Hospital in Kwaren Ganuwa, where he is now receiving treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that he is in stable condition.
Security agencies have not yet issued an official statement, but local residents say such attacks are becoming more frequent on rural roads in the area, especially during the evening hours.
Zamfara State has been one of the worst-hit areas in northern Nigeria in recent years, as bandits continue to carry out attacks, kidnappings, and raids in rural communities. Roads like Gusau–Keta and others across Tsafe, Maru, and Anka LGAs have become increasingly unsafe.
Many residents and travellers now live in fear and avoid certain routes, especially at night. Local authorities and security operatives have been working to secure key roads, but the remote nature of some areas makes it difficult to maintain constant patrols.
Calls have continued from community leaders and civil society groups for the federal and state governments to boost security presence in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.
Meanwhile, the injured victim’s family has expressed gratitude for the quick response of other passengers and locals who helped transport him to the hospital after the attack.
