At least 17 farmers have been killed and several others injured in an attack by suspected bandits on Goran Namaye village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A resident of the community, Ibrahim Mohammed, told The Telegraph that the attack occurred on Friday while the farmers were working on their farmlands.
He said the armed men had earlier warned residents not to go to their farms during the planting season, threatening attacks on anyone who defied the order.
Despite the warning, some farmers reportedly proceeded to their farmlands, where they were ambushed.
“Suddenly, the bandits, who were in large numbers, invaded the farmlands and started shooting at the farmers,” Mohammed said.
“They killed 17 farmers, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.”
He added that the victims were later given a mass burial, while the injured were taken to a hospital in Talata-Mafara for treatment.
A member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Maharazu Salisu, condemned the attack and called on both the federal and state governments to take urgent action to address the worsening insecurity in the area.
He warned that continued attacks could severely disrupt farming activities, as residents were already living in fear due to the presence of armed groups across several communities.
Salisu also cited cases of abductions in neighbouring areas, alleging that some residents remained in captivity following failed attempts at negotiation with armed groups.
“Both the state and the federal government should do something urgently to stop these killings, otherwise our people will be prevented from farming this year,” he said.
“These bandits are everywhere in the local government and are bent on stopping farming activities.
“They are not demanding ransom from farmers when they kidnap them; their mission is simply to halt farming activities.”
He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to restore safety in the area and ensure farmers can return to their fields without fear of attack.
Salisu warned that if the situation is not urgently addressed, it could worsen food insecurity in Zamfara State and across the wider region.
