BANDITS have killed eight members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, also known as Askarawa, in an ambush.
The Zamfara State Security Outfit, established by Governor Dauda Lawal to assist other security agencies in the state, lost the personnel yesterday morning near Tsafe town, headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area.
According to Brigadier General Mohammed Lawal, Commander of the Community Protection Guards, the guards were attacked at their checkpoint, just a few kilometers outside the town.
The personnel had been deployed to the area to combat the frequent abductions along the Gusau-Funtua Highway. Since their arrival, kidnappings in the area had significantly decreased.
“When I became aware of the bandits’ use of that route to kidnap travelers, I informed the Governor, and we deployed the CPGs to that location, equipped with two Hilux vehicles. The area is mountainous,” Lawal explained.
The commander added that for the past two months, the guards had been stationed there daily, from early morning until around 6:30 pm. However, the bandits, who had spent the night in a nearby community, laid an ambush.
When the guards’ vehicle returned after dropping off the first group, the bandits opened fire, killing eight guards and wounding a traveler.
Despite the tragedy, Lawal emphasized the state government’s commitment to eliminating security threats in the region.
“As the bandits plan, we also plan. We’ve discovered another route they use around Wanzamai, and we will not relent. Insha Allah, we will rid the state of them,” he said.
Governor Lawal has expressed his sorrow over the loss of the guards, describing the attack as a barbaric act by fleeing bandits.
In a statement from his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the governor praised the bravery of the Community Protection Guards and other troops for their sacrifices to safeguard lives.
“I received the unfortunate report of an ambush in Tsafe, where nine of our brave guards were killed. The names of the fallen guards are Nasiru Aliyu, Jabiru Hassan, Abdullahi Dangude, Bashar Bawa, Mu’azu Musa, Anas Dahiru, Anas Yakubu, Lawali Yunusa, and one other. This cowardly ambush by bandits, who are on the run due to our sustained offensive, will not deter us,” the governor stated.
He vowed that operations against the bandits will continue and extended his condolences to the families of the fallen guards, assuring them that their sacrifice will never be forgotten and that support will be provided to their families.