Armed bandits mounted a roadblock along the Wanzamai–Magazu Road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Tuesday evening, abducting several travellers. The incident occurred as Muslims were preparing to break their fast during Ramadan, highlighting the persistent insecurity in the region.
According to witnesses, the assailants stopped motorists on the busy rural route linking Wanzamai and Magazu communities and forcibly took passengers at gunpoint. A security alert confirmed that two vehicles were intercepted and all occupants were taken hostage.
A source, Bakatsine, condemned the attack, describing it as both “heartbreaking and alarming,” especially given the sacred period of Ramadan. He questioned the state of security in the country, noting that innocent citizens can no longer travel freely without fear of abduction or attack.
Zamfara State has long been a hotspot for banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, with armed groups regularly targeting villages, imposing illegal levies, rustling cattle, and abducting travellers and students for ransom. The Wanzamai–Magazu axis, like other rural routes in Tsafe LGA, is particularly vulnerable due to limited security presence and dense forested areas.
As of the report, security agencies had not issued an official statement on rescue operations or efforts to apprehend the perpetrators. Residents continue to live in fear, carefully weighing the risks of travel even during daylight hours, reflecting the deepening security challenges facing Zamfara State and the nation.
