At least 12 members of the same family have reportedly been burnt to death after armed men suspected to be bandits attacked Gidan Taba village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack occurred on Saturday night in Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward, according to a resident familiar with the incident.
A local source said the victims belonged to the family of Mallam Muhammadu Sani, who reportedly gathered his relatives inside one room to protect them from abduction.
The source explained that the attackers discovered the family hiding inside the room and ordered them to open the door.
When the occupants reportedly refused, the gunmen set the room on fire, killing all 12 family members.
Other residents were also reportedly abducted during the attack, although the number of people taken away remained unclear.
The 12 deceased family members were buried on Sunday morning according to Islamic rites.
The incident comes amid reported attacks by armed groups along the busy Gusau-Sokoto Road, where commuters and surrounding communities have faced security concerns.
Residents described the killings as devastating and called on security agencies and the Zamfara State Government to strengthen efforts to protect lives and property.
As of the time of filing the report, attempts to reach the Zamfara State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, for comments were unsuccessful.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the number of abducted residents, had yet to receive official confirmation.
