Bandits abduct 40 in Zamfara mosque as peace deal collapses

Bandits in the early hours of yesterday attacked a mosque at Gidan Turbe village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, abducting no fewer than 40 worshippers.

The attack came barely hours after a similar one at Godai village in Bukkuyum LGA of the state, kidnapping over 10 persons.

This is just as troops of Operation Fasan Yamma, OPFY, reportedly conducted several operations across the North-West theatre, foiling terrorist attacks and recovering exhibits in Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

Similarly, gunmen weekend kidnapped the Parish priest of St Paul’s Catholic Church, Rev Father Wilfred Ezemba, and some yet-to-be identified commuters along Imane-Ogugu road in Kogi State.

Community sources in Zamfara said the attack on the mosque occurred during prayers at about 5:30 am, when the gunmen surrounded it and whisked away the worshippers at gunpoint. Local sources disclosed that the abductors later moved the captives into the forests around Gohori axis in Tsafe LGA.

The attack, according to critical stakeholders, signalled collapse of the peace deal both Katsina and Zamfara states had with the bandits terrorising the North-West.

Recall that community leaders and bandits in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State, on August 28, 2025 signed a peace agreement.

The pact, according to all the attendees, marked a significant step towards ending years of violence, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the North-West and by extension, Northern region.

The agreement, brokered by the Maradin Katsina and district head of Kurfi, Alhaji Mansur Amadu Kurfi, and the local government chairman, Babangida Abdullahi Kurfi, took place at Wurma forest, a hotspot for insecurity.

The bandits have no command, structure and control. You can negotiate with bandits in Katsina while they continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna states,’’ a local source told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert.