Eight members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, known locally as Askarawa, were killed in an ambush by bandits on Monday near Tsafe town, the headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area.
The attack also left one traveller injured.
The Community Protection Guards, established by Governor Dauda Lawal to assist security agencies in combating violence in the state, had been stationed along the Gusau-Funtua Highway to prevent abductions, which had previously plagued the area.
Brigadier General Mohammed Lawal, Commander of the Community Protection Guards, told Channels Television that the guards were ambushed at their checkpoint, a few kilometers outside of Tsafe. “When I got to know about the bandits’ route around that area which they used to kidnap travelers, I informed the Governor, and we deployed the CPGs to that side,” he explained.
For two months, the guards had been patrolling the area from early morning until 6:30 p.m., a presence that had significantly reduced kidnappings along the route. However, on the day of the attack, the bandits lay in wait. As a Hilux vehicle dropped off the first group of personnel and returned to collect others, the bandits opened fire, resulting in the deaths of eight guards.
The names of those killed were Nasiru Aliyu, Jabiru Hassan, Abdullahi Dangude, Bashar Bawa, Mu’azu Musa, Anas Dahiru, Anas Yakubu, Lawali Yunusa, and another yet-to-be-identified guard.
Governor Lawal expressed his condolences, describing the attack as a “barbaric act” by bandits seeking refuge from ongoing security operations. In a statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, Governor Lawal commended the bravery of the guards, emphasizing their sacrifice in safeguarding the lives of Zamfara’s residents.
“I received the unfortunate report of an ambush by bandits yesterday in Tsafe Local Government Area, during which nine of our brave Community Protection Guards were killed,” the governor stated. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support the families of the fallen guards, assuring them that their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Lawal also highlighted that despite the tragedy, efforts to eliminate security threats in the state will continue. “As they [the bandits] are also planning, we are also planning,” he said, vowing to flush the bandits out of the state and prevent future incidents.
