38 villagers killed by bandits in Zamfara despite ₦50 million ransom payment

Summary

• In a devastating act of banditry, 38 abducted villagers from Banga community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State were brutally killed by bandits, despite the community raising and paying over ₦50 million in ransom
• The victims, primarily men, along with one woman and three infants born in captivity who later died, were reportedly “slaughtered one by one” after being held hostage since February/March 2025
• This incident, confirmed by the Kaura Namoda LGA Chairman, highlights the escalating security crisis in Zamfara, sparking outrage and calls for urgent government intervention
• Discrepancies exist in reported casualty figures, but local officials and survivors’ accounts paint a grim picture of ongoing bandit control and severe humanitarian conditions in the region

Kaura Namoda, Nigeria – A profound tragedy has struck Banga village in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where 38 abducted villagers have been brutally killed by armed bandits, despite their community reportedly paying a ransom exceeding ₦50 million.

The incident, which has sent shockwaves across the nation, underscores the deepening security crisis plaguing Nigeria’s northwestern region.
Between February and March 2025, a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Dan Sadiya led a raid on Banga, a remote farming community, abducting between 53 and 56 residents.

The bandits initially demanded ₦1 million per hostage, leading to the community’s desperate efforts to raise over ₦50 million. After weeks of arduous fundraising, the ransom was paid. However, only 18 hostages, mostly women and children, were released.

The fate of the remaining captives, 35 to 38 individuals, predominantly men, one woman, and three infants born during their captivity, was horrific. Survivors who were eventually released recounted severe beatings, deplorable conditions, and the tragic deaths of the three newborns due to lack of care. Most chillingly, the remaining adult captives were reportedly “slaughtered one by one” by their captors.

Mannir Haidara Kaura, the Chairman of Kaura Namoda LGA, confirmed the devastating incident, noting that 56 people were initially abducted and only 18 were released, now receiving medical treatment. He described the killings as one of the worst tragedies to hit the area and announced plans to visit the bereaved families with state officials.

Residents, including Ibrahim Banga and Aminu Musa Banga, revealed the extent of the bandits’ control over the village, stating that surrounding communities have been deserted due to incessant attacks, kidnappings, and rampant sexual violence.

While most sources align on 38 fatalities, some reports cite 33 or 35 victims, with minor variations in the total number of abductees (51 to 56). Notably, the Zamfara State Police Command’s spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, claimed no official report of the incident had been received, urging communities to report such cases promptly. This statement, however, has been met with skepticism given the widespread nature and scale of the tragedy.

The attack serves as a stark reminder of the escalating security crisis in Zamfara State, where banditry, mass abductions, and extortion have become endemic. Banga village is reportedly under the direct control of criminal elements, with desperate residents appealing for urgent military deployment to restore peace and rescue any remaining captives.

The Zamfara Good Governance Forum (ZGGF) has been vocal in its condemnation, demanding the resignation of Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of incompetence and inconsistent security policies. They argue that rural communities are now at the mercy of criminals who freely impose taxes and inflict violence, contrasting the current situation with that of the previous administration.

The incident underscores the immense challenges in combating banditry in northwestern Nigeria, where criminal gangs exploit weak governance and sparse security presence. What began as localized herder-farmer conflicts has metastasized into organized crime.

There are renewed calls from residents and officials for both federal and state governments to intensify military operations, with some drawing comparisons to more decisive actions taken in neighbouring Niger State, where 45 bandits were recently neutralized.

This latest tragedy in Banga village has ignited widespread outrage, intensifying calls for immediate accountability from authorities and robust, sustained security measures to address the rampant banditry plaguing Zamfara and indeed, the entire northwestern region of Nigeria.