Zamfara State has been plunged into mourning after a deadly bandit attack in Anka Local Government Area claimed the lives of no fewer than 50 residents of Dutsin Dan Ajiya village.

According to eyewitnesses, heavily armed gunmen stormed the community on Thursday evening, firing sporadically and blocking all entry and exit routes to prevent villagers from escaping. The attackers reportedly operated from about 5pm until around 3:30am on Friday, unleashing terror on the rural settlement.

A resident who spoke anonymously said the assailants shot at anyone in sight after sealing off the roads. “People ran helter-skelter as they opened fire. After the attack, we counted about 30 bodies, but many others were missing,” he said.

However, Reuters quoted a lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, Hamisu Faru, as confirming that at least 50 people were killed. He added that homes were burnt during the prolonged assault. Survivors described a night of horror, with mass burials conducted as grieving families wrapped victims in white cloth.

The Zamfara massacre occurred barely a day after the state government donated Armoured Personnel Carriers and a drone to security forces to strengthen operations against bandits. Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, had earlier urged troops to take decisive action against terrorists who refuse to surrender.

Zamfara remains one of the worst-hit states in Nigeria’s North-West security crisis. Recent attacks in Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina states have also resulted in mass casualties, underscoring persistent insecurity in the region.

Security experts argue that the killings expose structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s security framework. Analysts are now calling for decentralised policing and sustained offensive operations to curb banditry and prevent further bloodshed across vulnerable communities.