Bandits struck Tsauni community in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, on Wednesday night, abducting two serving councillors and an Imam in a brazen attack. The raid occurred at about 8:05 p.m., shortly after Maghrib prayers, when the victims were gathered at a tea spot.
Witnesses said the gunmen operated with alarming confidence, even as a police outpost stood nearby. The attackers were reported to seize mobile phones of police officers on duty and moved through the area without resistance. Initial accounts indicate the bandits had come in search of a resident of Kaura village; when they failed to find their intended target they rounded up six people, later releasing three and taking away the two councillors and the Imam.
The abducted councillors represent Gidan Goga and Tsibiri wards in Maradun Local Government Area. The Chairman of Maradun LGA, Hon. Sanusi Gama Giwa, confirmed the incident and identified the victims, describing the abduction as a stark reminder of Zamfara’s worsening insecurity.
The Zamfara State Police Command said operatives have been deployed and a rescue operation is ongoing. As of the latest reports, families of the victims had not been contacted and no ransom demands had been made public.
Residents of Tsauni, which hosts dozens of internally displaced persons fleeing attacks in nearby villages, expressed outrage and fear. “If bandits can abduct our councillors and Imam in Gusau itself, then ordinary citizens have no hope,” a local resident said.
Security analysts view the abduction of elected and religious leaders as an escalation that underscores the bandits’ growing boldness and intent to intimidate communities and challenge state authority. The incident raises fresh questions about the effectiveness of current security measures in Zamfara and the broader North-West region.
The fate of the abducted councillors and the Imam remains unknown as rescue efforts continue.