Zamfara State was thrown into mourning on Friday after bandits reportedly killed no fewer than 50 residents of Dutsin Dan Ajiya village in Anka Local Government Area. The attack occurred on Thursday night when gunmen stormed the community and opened fire on villagers.
According to a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the assailants arrived in the village armed with sophisticated weapons. The attackers were said to have shot sporadically, causing panic as residents fled for safety.
The scale of the assault left dozens dead, with many others feared injured. Survivors described the incident as sudden and brutal, adding that the community was caught off guard by the invasion.
Video footage seen by Saturday PUNCH showed the corpses of the victims wrapped in white cloth in preparation for a mass burial. The sight reflected the gravity of the tragedy and the number of lives lost in the attack.
Residents said the burial rites were being arranged in line with Islamic traditions, as grieving families gathered to mourn their loved ones. The atmosphere in the village was described as tense and sorrowful following the killings.
Zamfara State has in recent years experienced repeated attacks by bandits who raid communities, abduct residents, and carry out killings. Anka Local Government Area is among the parts of the state frequently affected by such violence.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had not officially confirmed the casualty figure. Efforts to reach state officials for comments were ongoing.
The latest attack adds to growing concerns over insecurity in the region, with residents calling for increased security presence to prevent further loss of lives.
