At least 33 people are feared dead after suspected terrorists reportedly invaded several communities in the Dansadau axis of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, triggering a mass exodus of residents.
According to LEADERSHIP, residents said the attackers stormed Dandalla, headquarters of Kyambana Ward, as well as Madada, Tudun Gabas and other surrounding villages.
Yahuza Ibrahim, a resident of the area, said Dandalla suffered the worst of the attack, with many residents feared killed.
Sources said the attackers allegedly prevented residents from conducting funeral rites, known as Jana’iza, for those killed in the assault.
Another resident, Bello Uzairu, described the situation as dire, saying, “Reports from Dansadau show terrorists have overrun our villages.”
The scale of the attack reportedly triggered a mass movement of residents towards Dansadau town, with women, elderly people and children among those fleeing their communities on foot.
“As of the time of this report, in the middle of the night, a large influx of displaced persons, including women, elderly men, and young children, was seen fleeing on foot into Dansadau town for safety,” a resident added.
The residents appealed for urgent intervention from both the government and other relevant authorities to protect communities in the area and prevent further loss of lives.
Dansadau is among the areas of Zamfara State that have suffered repeated attacks on rural communities in recent years.
When contacted, the Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he was not yet aware of the incident.
“I have not heard of it, but I will confirm and call you back,” he said.
As of press time, the state government had yet to issue an official statement on the reported attack.
The reported casualty figure and the extent of destruction could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.
