Zamfara State was thrown into mourning last night as terrorists launched coordinated assaults on four rural communities, leaving at least 18 people dead and several others battling for survival. The attacks, which occurred on Saturday, 23rd November 2025, around 8 p.m., spread terror across Gidandawa, Gangala, Tagoro, and Makkeh villages, marking yet another deadly blow to the state’s fragile security situation.
According to local residents and early security reports, the armed men stormed the communities almost simultaneously, arriving on motorcycles and opening fire indiscriminately. The suddenness and brutality of the assault left villagers scrambling for safety as the attackers moved from house to house, burning and looting properties.
In Gidandawa village, the terrorists killed four residents, mostly men who reportedly attempted to alert neighbouring communities as the gunmen advanced. Witnesses say the attackers operated freely for over an hour before moving toward Gangala.
In Gangala village, three people were confirmed killed. Survivors described the attack as “merciless,” with many narrowly escaping into nearby farmlands under the cover of darkness. Women and children were said to have been the most affected by the panic as gunshots echoed across the community.
Tagoro village recorded the highest death toll, with six villagers killed during the raid. Residents say the attackers unleashed heavy gunfire that forced many families out of their homes. Several people who sustained injuries are currently receiving emergency care in nearby clinics, though the exact number remains unclear.
The night of violence extended to Makkeh village, where five people were killed and three others abducted. The kidnapped victims, all adult males, were reportedly taken into the forest, and their whereabouts remain unknown. Community leaders fear the number of abducted persons could increase as more residents are still unaccounted for.
The coordinated nature of the assaults has raised fresh fears among locals, who say security presence in the affected communities remains thin despite repeated appeals to the government. Many residents blame the attacks on the resurgence of bandit gangs operating between Zamfara and neighbouring states.
As families search for missing loved ones and make preparations for mass burials, calls are intensifying for the state and federal governments to take urgent action to stop what many now describe as a “slow-motion tragedy” consuming rural communities in northern Nigeria.
Security agencies are yet to release an official statement, but an officer familiar with the situation confirmed that reinforcements have been deployed to the affected axis, with efforts underway to track the attackers and rescue those abducted.
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