55-Year-Old Zamfara Woman Recounts Horror Of Bandit Attacks

A 55-year-old woman, Fatima, has recounted the horror of bandit attacks in Zamfara State, saying residents are often forced to choose between being shot while fleeing or abducted if they remain in their homes.

Fatima, who spoke to the BBC Hausa Service, said bandits attacked her community around 2 a.m., dividing themselves into three groups to surround the village.

She said one group positioned itself at the entrance, another entered the community, while the third took position behind the village to prevent residents from escaping.

Fatima said the attackers would set houses on fire when residents sought refuge indoors, while those who attempted to flee were shot.

She said the bandits sometimes arrived in large numbers, with as many as 100 motorcycles, each carrying about three people.

According to her, about 70 people, including children, were killed in Bia Buki village in June.

Fatima said a nearby village had also become completely deserted following repeated attacks, with residents abandoning their homes and possessions.

She described the situation as devastating for communities that had been left with few options for protecting themselves from the attackers.

The woman’s account highlights the continuing security challenges facing communities in parts of Zamfara State, where bandit attacks have forced residents to flee their homes and disrupted normal life.