More than 50 people were killed in a Zamfara clash between village vigilantes and an armed gang in northwestern Nigeria last week, residents said, though police said they had no details and the toll has not been independently confirmed.
The fighting near Zoma village, in Bukkuyum district, shows how communities in Nigeria’s northwest are arming themselves against kidnapping gangs, two months before the general election on 16 January in which insecurity is a central issue.
What happened in the Zamfara clash?
Vigilantes from Zoma ambushed bandits who were passing through the area after kidnapping several people in neighbouring Gummi district, residents told AFP on Saturday. A traditional village chief, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said the vigilantes killed 44 bandits and lost nine of their own men.
The chief said a gang commander known as Jijji, who had led the kidnapping, was among the dead. Two Zoma residents, Kabiru Tafida and Basiru Buhari, gave AFP the same account and the same toll. AFP said the fighting took place on Thursday.
A report by BBC Hausa, cited by Vanguard, put the death toll at more than 40, including suspected bandits and vigilantes, and dated the clash to Wednesday. It said an informant had passed the vigilantes’ plans to the gang. ThisDay and RFI reported the Zamfara clash on Sunday.
What have the authorities said?
A Zamfara state police spokesman told AFP on Saturday that the force had not yet received details of the clashes. We found no statement on the Zamfara clash from the Nigeria Police Force or the state government by Sunday afternoon, and the casualty figures come only from residents and a village leader.
Buhari, one of the residents, called on the authorities to supply vigilantes with guns and ammunition, AFP reported. Nigeria’s military runs a dedicated campaign against the gangs in the northwest and routinely describes them as terrorists.
Why is Zamfara so exposed to banditry?
Zamfara is one of the states worst hit by gangs that kidnap for ransom, rustle cattle, raid villages and burn homes. The violence grew out of disputes between herders and farmers over land and water, made worse by climate change and population growth, according to AFP. Some gangs have formed ties with jihadist groups.
Mass abductions have continued this year: DNE Africa reported in September that 87 people were abducted in two attacks in northern Nigeria. Earlier, the federal government lifted a five-year mining ban in Zamfara, citing better security, and the army said it had killed 95 armed fighters in one operation.
What does the Zamfara clash mean for the election?
Insecurity and the high cost of living are among the main issues as President Bola Tinubu seeks a second term in January, AFP noted. Banditry in the northwest has displaced communities and disrupted farming across several states, and the Zamfara clash adds to pressure on the government to show results before the vote.
The next step is official confirmation of the toll. Police and the Zamfara state government have yet to give their account, and residents have asked for more support for local vigilantes.
FAQ
How many people died in the Zamfara clash?
Residents told AFP that more than 50 died: 44 bandits and nine vigilantes. A BBC Hausa report put the toll at more than 40. Police have not confirmed any figure.
Where did the fighting take place?
Near Zoma village in Bukkuyum district, Zamfara State, after a kidnapping in neighbouring Gummi district.
Who was Jijji?
Residents described him as a notorious gang commander who led the kidnapping. They said he was killed in the clash.
When is Nigeria’s next election?
The general election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.
