Fresh Bandit Attack in Zamfara Leaves over 30 Dead Following Kebbi Killings

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Feb 20, 2026 #Anka LGA killings, #Arewa Kebbi attack, #bandits abduct villagers, #Kebbi massacre Nigeria, #Nigeria banditry news, #northwest Nigeria insecurity, #rural violence Nigeria, #Zamfara bandit attack 2026

Malik Yahya/

At least 30 people have been killed in a fresh bandit attack on a community in Zamfara State, as insecurity continues to grip north‑west Nigeria, according to residents and local sources.

The raid occurred late on Thursday, when armed men on motorcycles descended on Dutsin Dan Ajiya village in Anka Local Government Area.

Witnesses told journalists the attackers blocked roads leading into and out of the settlement before opening sustained fire.

“We were at home when we heard heavy shooting around midnight,” one survivor said. “By morning we saw many dead bodies and some people were missing.”

Several survivors reported that others were abducted during the attack, though official figures on kidnappings have not yet been released.

The attack came just a day after a separate assault in neighbouring Kebbi State, in which security forces confirmed 33 people were killed by suspected Lakurawa insurgents in Bui District, Arewa Local Government Area.

That earlier incident did not immediately produce confirmed reports of abductions.

Security analysts say the proximity in time and location of these raids highlights the persistent threat posed by armed groups operating across rural communities in the north‑west.

North‑west Nigeria has seen recurring bandit attacks for several years, with communities in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger states regularly targeted.

Armed groups exploit vast rural areas where security presence is thin, striking villages to kill, abduct residents and seize livestock.

While the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to restoring peace, residents say they continue to live in fear as violence persists.

Local leaders have called for increased military patrols and better intelligence operations to protect vulnerable communities.

Authorities are yet to release a consolidated report on the total number of casualties and missing persons from the recent Zamfara attack.