On the evening of October 16, 2025, tragedy unfolded along the Gusau-Funtuwa road in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, when a routine security patrol was ambushed by armed bandits. The attack, which occurred near Gidan-Giye village in Tsafe Local Government Area, resulted in the deaths of five police officers and three members of the Community Protection Guards (CPGs), according to multiple sources including the Zamfara State Governor and local police authorities.
The patrol team had set out from Gusau, the state capital, earlier that day. Their mission was straightforward: to monitor the notoriously dangerous Gusau-Funtuwa road, a route that has become infamous for frequent bandit attacks targeting travelers, commuters, and local residents. The officers, both police and CPGs—government-backed militia tasked with supporting formal security efforts—were determined to ensure the safety of the area’s inhabitants. Yet, as they drove past Gidan-Giye, a few kilometers from Tsafe town, their patrol vehicle was suddenly beset by gunfire.
Eyewitnesses described the ambush as both swift and meticulously coordinated. Ya’u Musa, a resident living near the attack site, recounted the harrowing scene to reporters: “The attack happened very fast. The security men were driving past when the bandits came out from their hiding spots and started shooting. All the officers in the vehicle were killed instantly.” Musa further suggested the bandits may have had advance knowledge of the patrol’s movement, stating, “It looked like the bandits knew they were coming. These officers had come from the government house in Gusau on a special assignment to make the road safe for travellers. Not long after they left Tsafe, we started hearing gunshots.”
The bandits, reportedly in large numbers and riding motorcycles—a common tactic among such groups in northwest Nigeria—opened heavy fire before fleeing into the surrounding forest. According to residents who later visited the scene, the aftermath was horrifying: bullet shells littered the ground, and the patrol vehicle was riddled with holes. The bodies of the eight slain officers were subsequently transported to the Federal Medical Centre and the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau.
Governor Dauda Lawal confirmed the killings in a somber Facebook statement late that evening. Expressing deep sorrow, he wrote, “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. I have received a sad report that police officers and Askarawa were killed on the Funtuwa road to Gusau. May Allah rest their souls and grant their families the strength to bear this loss. We continue to pray for an end to this crisis in Zamfara, the North, and Nigeria.” He later added, “May Allah (T) have mercy on them, and give their families and relatives patience for this loss. We ask Allah (T) to put an end to this security problem in the whole of Zamfara State, the North and Nigeria as a whole.”
DSP Yazid Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer for Zamfara State, confirmed the attack to Channels Television, explaining that it occurred during a regular patrol along the Tsafe–Funtua highway. He noted that reinforcements had been deployed to the area and that efforts were ongoing to locate one officer who remained unaccounted for in the immediate aftermath. As of October 17, no arrests had been reported, but additional personnel continued to comb the surrounding forests in search of the attackers.
The violence did not stop there. On the morning of October 17, bandits struck again in the Yandoto community of Tsafe Local Government Area, killing five worshippers and kidnapping several others. This second attack, reported by KanyiDaily, underscored the persistent threat facing residents of Zamfara State and the surrounding region.
Zamfara’s security crisis is not new. For years, criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” have terrorized communities across northwestern and central Nigeria. These groups, motivated primarily by financial gain, operate from camps hidden deep within forests that span Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger states. Their activities range from cattle rustling and village raids to kidnapping and murder. According to police statements and regional analysts, bandits regularly set up barricades along highways, open fire on vehicles, and kidnap travelers for ransom. This has prompted increased patrols by security personnel, but the violence has persisted despite military deployments since 2015 and various government amnesty initiatives.
The Gusau–Funtuwa road, where the latest ambush occurred, is widely considered one of the most dangerous routes in Zamfara State. Many commuters either avoid it altogether or travel in groups for added safety. The frequency and boldness of attacks on both civilians and security operatives have raised serious questions about intelligence leaks and the effectiveness of current security strategies. Some residents suspect that the bandits’ ability to anticipate patrol movements points to compromised information within security agencies.
Governor Lawal, in his message, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting banditry and restoring peace. He urged residents to remain calm while assuring them that the state government was working closely with security agencies to address the situation. “We will not give up,” he wrote. “The safety of our people and our security personnel remains our top priority.”
The killings have sparked grief and anxiety among law enforcement officers in the state. A police officer, speaking anonymously, described the deaths as heartbreaking: “These were our colleagues who risked their lives to protect others. It is painful to lose them like this. Every time we step out for patrol, we know the risks, but we cannot abandon our duty.”
The broader context of violence in Zamfara is complex. Armed ambushes and clashes between local farmers and herders over scarce water and farmland have become routine. Farmers often accuse herders, mainly from the Fulani ethnic group, of letting their livestock graze on crops, leading to tensions and sometimes deadly confrontations. In recent months, attacks by armed groups seeking ransom through kidnappings have surged, with Zamfara State bearing the brunt of this wave of insecurity. According to police and analysts, the increasing cooperation between bandits and jihadist groups waging an armed insurrection in northeast Nigeria has further complicated the security landscape.
Efforts to end the violence have included military operations, peace deals, and government-backed amnesty programs. However, as reported by AFP and other outlets, these measures have not yielded lasting results. Some security analysts caution that local peace agreements may simply provide safe havens for gangs to regroup and launch further attacks.
As Zamfara mourns the loss of its security personnel and civilians, calls for more robust and effective government action have grown louder. “We are tired of living in fear,” said a trader in Tsafe. “Almost every week, there are attacks. Sometimes they kidnap people, sometimes they kill. The government must do more to protect us.”
For now, Zamfara State remains tense, with its people hoping for peace but bracing for the possibility of further violence. The events of October 16 and 17 serve as a grim reminder of the enduring challenges facing not just Zamfara, but the entire northern region of Nigeria.
