8 Security Personnel Killed in Deadly Zamfara Ambush: Nigeria Mourns Yet Another Tragedy

A fresh wave of grief has hit Zamfara State after gunmen ambushed a security patrol on the Gusau–Funtua highway in the Tsafe Local Government Area, killing at least eight officers, five policemen and three local vigilante guards.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers suspected to be armed bandits had laid in wait inside nearby bushes before opening fire as the patrol convoy approached. The sudden assault left the security team with little chance to respond before they were overpowered.

Governor Dauda Lawal confirmed the incident on his official Facebook page, calling it “a dark and painful day for the people of Zamfara and the families of our fallen heroes.” He also demanded a total overhaul of Nigeria’s security strategy in the North-West, where banditry and kidnappings continue to terrorize communities.

“We must end this circle of loss. These officers died protecting us, and we cannot allow their sacrifice to be in vain,” the governor said.

Local residents told AP News that the patrol team had been deployed to secure the highway after repeated reports of armed robberies and kidnappings in the area. The route, which connects Zamfara to neighboring Katsina State, has become one of the most dangerous in northern Nigeria.

Security experts believe the ambush underscores a deeper problem poor coordination and insufficient intelligence-gathering between state and federal forces. “These attacks keep happening because our response is always reactive,” said a retired police officer interviewed by The Punch. “There’s no consistent surveillance or early warning system.”

As of Friday morning, the Zamfara State Police Command confirmed that search operations are ongoing to apprehend the attackers. No group has claimed responsibility yet.

Nigeria has faced a surge in rural violence since 2020, with armed groups exploiting weak policing and poverty in remote regions. The federal government has repeatedly promised reforms, but for many families, the promises sound the same each time another headline reads: “Gunmen strike again.”