By Abdullahi Abdulrahaman Chakwa, Gusau
Suspected bandits have attacked a gold mining site in Zamfara State, killing security personnel, traders, and local vigilantes in multiple incidents.
Security sources and locals told Daily Trust the assaults took place in several locations, including Bindin village, areas along Dansadau road in Maru LGA, and outskirts of Gusau, the state capital.
In Bindin, a local resident reported that nine soldiers and three mobile policemen were killed during an ambush on a mining site and a nearby military camp. The resident, who spoke anonymously, attributed the attack to notorious bandit leader Gwaska Dankarami, known for operating in the region, following miners’ resistance to his group’s rules, which led to a retaliation.
“The miners killed one of Dankarami’s men, prompting him to attack the site,” the resident alleged, adding that the violence forced many to flee into Bindin for safety, where they were pursued by the bandits. The full extent of casualties is still unclear, with bodies being recovered from mining pits and surrounding areas.
This latest ambush is not an isolated incident; it follows previous attacks attributed to Dankarami’s forces, raising fears that military personnel may relocate from Bindin to nearby Dangulbi.
In a separate incident, traders travelling towards Dansadau were ambushed by bandits who set fire to around 12 vehicles. This attack occurred shortly after soldiers had discovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along the same route, leading travellers to mistakenly assume the road was safe. Eyewitnesses reported that as bandits attacked, many fled, resulting in some casualties.
A local trader, Muhammad Salisu Dansadau, lamented the lack of security for traders, which has resulted in significant losses of perishable goods during prolonged delays, while also commending the community’s efforts in providing aid to stranded travellers.
In Gwashi district, another attack claimed the lives of eight security personnel and 12 civilians. Residents reported conflicting accounts of the casualty figures but confirmed that the incident disrupted market activities and sparked fears of ongoing violence.
In still another incident, four members of the local vigilante group Askarawa were killed in Damba district, with another member wounded. Residents suspect their movements were disclosed to the attackers, as they had returned safely from harvesting rice just a day prior.
Efforts by Daily Trust to obtain responses from Zamfara State Police and military officials were unsuccessful.
