No fewer than 20 residents have been killed after heavily armed terrorists launched a brazen three-hour daylight attack on several communities in the Sauna District of Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, with survivors accusing nearby security operatives of fleeing for safety instead of defending residents.
The attackers, who also rustled a large number of livestock, reportedly invaded the communities at about 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday and operated unhindered until about 5:00 p.m., leaving a trail of death, destruction and displacement.
A community member who survived the attack told SaharaReporters on Thursday morning that residents repeatedly hoped security personnel stationed within the area would intervene but were left to confront the terrorists alone.
“The attack started around 2 p.m. and continued until about 5 p.m. The terrorists operated freely for three hours without any security operatives coming to our rescue,” the survivor said.
“The police and the soldiers who are close by ran away for their own lives, leaving the residents completely at the mercy of the terrorists. Nobody came to protect us while the terrorists moved from one community to another.”
SaharaReporters gathered that the victims were being buried on Thursday morning in accordance with Islamic rites as families and community members mourned those killed in the attack.
Residents said the terrorists first attempted to invade Sauna town but encountered resistance from local vigilantes, who engaged them in a gun battle and forced them to retreat.
However, instead of abandoning the operation, the gunmen redirected their assault to surrounding villages where they reportedly met little or no resistance.
Communities attacked include Zauren Goro, Tulluwa, Unguwar Shanu, Tsangaya, Tudun Namali and Tungar Dahiru, where the assailants killed residents, rustled livestock and forced many villagers to flee into nearby bushes.
A resident of Sauna, who spoke earlier to Iconic FM Nigeria on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the attackers operated openly in broad daylight, attacking multiple communities across the district.
According to him, the terrorists not only stole a large number of cattle and other domestic animals but also killed scores of residents, many of whom were caught unprepared while carrying out their daily activities.
“In my presence alone, more than 20 bodies were recovered,” the resident said. “The search is still ongoing because many farmers were working on their farms when the terrorists invaded. We believe more bodies may still be found.”
He added that at least five people who sustained gunshot wounds during the attack are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Talata Mafara.
The latest massacre is another grim reminder of the persistent insecurity ravaging Zamfara State, where armed gangs, locally referred to as bandits but widely regarded by residents as terrorists, have continued to launch deadly raids on rural communities despite repeated military operations and government assurances.
For years, residents of communities across Talata Mafara and other parts of Zamfara have repeatedly complained of delayed security responses to distress calls, alleging that attacks often last for hours before help arrives, if at all.
The allegation by survivors that nearby soldiers and police officers abandoned their duty posts and fled during Wednesday’s attack is likely to heighten concerns over the capacity and willingness of security agencies to protect vulnerable communities already living under constant fear of terrorist violence.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Amnesty International condemned the brutal killing of at least 24 farmers by suspected bandits during an attack on Sauna Ruwan Gora Ward in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, describing the massacre as further evidence that Nigeria’s security strategy in the state has failed.
In a statement, the human rights organisation said the attackers invaded the farming community and opened fire at close range on adults working on their farms, leaving at least 24 people dead while several others remain missing.
According to Amnesty International, some of the farmers who escaped the attack sustained life-threatening injuries as the gunmen carried out the deadly assault.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of 24 farmers by bandits during an attack on Sauna Ruwan Gora Ward of Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Such killings have been going on across Zamfara State, with many communities left constantly bracing up for the next attack,” the organisation said.
The rights group explained that the attackers specifically targeted farmers in their fields, shooting any adult they encountered.
“The gunmen attacked the village and went shooting at close range at any adult found working on his farm. Some farmers escaped with life-threatening injuries. This is yet another proof that whatever security strategy adopted to deal with the situation in Zamfara is not working,” Amnesty International stated.
The organisation lamented that repeated military operations in the state had failed to halt the persistent attacks, particularly in rural communities that continued to bear the brunt of the violence.
