Police say over 30 suspected bandit bodies found after Zamfara gun battle
- Zamfara police say operatives and local civil security outfits stopped an attempted attack on Bukuyum town.
- More than 30 bodies believed to be those of the attackers were later found in surrounding farmlands.
- Police say the toll is unverified because bandits are known to remove their dead from battle sites.
Police in Zamfara say they have found more than 30 bodies believed to be those of armed bandits in farmlands around Bukuyum town, after security operatives and local civil security outfits stopped an attempt to overrun the community.
The state police command's spokesman, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said in a statement on Saturday that the attempted attack on Bukuyum in Bukuyum Local Government Area came on 28 October. Operatives of the command, working with local civil security outfits, engaged the attackers in a gun battle and kept them out of the town, he said.
One source gave a different date. Daily Trust reported that the operation began on December 28, 2026, while Channels TV, Leadership, Tribune and Daily Post all put the start at 28 October 2026.
According to the police, the bodies were discovered in surrounding farmlands afterwards, suggesting the attackers suffered heavy casualties. But the command said the actual number of casualties is still subject to verification, noting that armed bandits are known to evacuate their dead and wounded from battle scenes.
Tribune and Daily Post described the bodies as decomposed; the police statement quoted by the outlets did not use that word.
What it means for residents
The police said the defence of the town prevented possible loss of lives, destruction of property and further displacement of residents. That matters in a state where years of banditry have forced many families off their farms and out of their homes.
According to the command, preliminary security assessments suggest sustained pressure from security operations has pushed some of the remaining bandits out of Zamfara. The police did not give figures or name the areas affected, and there was no independent confirmation of that assessment.
The statement said the clearance operation is continuing in partnership with other security agencies and stakeholders, with the aim of restoring public confidence and keeping communities safe.
What happens next
Residents should expect more security activity around Bukuyum and nearby communities while the operation lasts. The police said they will keep working with local civil security outfits and other security agencies.
The casualty figure remains the police's own account for now.
Sources
This story draws on reporting by: