Police Say 17 Bandits Killed After Zamfara Highway Attack

The Zamfara State Police Command said 17 suspected bandits were killed after security forces engaged them in a gun battle following an attack along the Gusau–Funtua Federal Highway in Tsafe Local Government Area. The initial highway attack occurred on August 25, when armed attackers reportedly blocked the road near Unguwar Chida Village.

According to the police, the attackers intercepted two commercial vehicles, including a Sharon vehicle travelling from Sokoto toward the Federal Capital Territory and a Sokoto State Transport Authority bus carrying passengers toward Kaduna and Abuja. The incident resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, while eight passengers were reportedly abducted.

The security response intensified later that day after the attackers reportedly moved toward other locations in Tsafe. Police and military personnel subsequently tracked the fleeing suspects toward the Funtua–Gusau highway, where they encountered the group attempting to intercept a trailer carrying food supplies. A gun battle followed, during which police said 17 suspects were killed and others sustained injuries.

Security agencies are continuing search-and-rescue operations for the eight abducted passengers. The police said joint patrols involving security personnel and local community-based security groups have also been deployed along the highway and other vulnerable areas, while clearance operations are being conducted around suspected hideouts and escape routes.

The incident highlights the continuing security challenges facing major highways in Zamfara and surrounding areas. Police authorities have directed operatives to intensify efforts to locate the abducted passengers and prevent further attacks, while residents and motorists have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to security agencies.