According to eyewitnesses, the bandits arrived in large numbers and opened fire on the security personnel stationed in the area. In the ensuing exchange, four soldiers were killed. The attackers also set ablaze the patrol vehicle belonging to the troops and their sleeping lodge before moving deeper into the town.
The raid did not end with the assault on the military position. Residents said the bandits went from house to house, shooting sporadically and forcing people out of their homes. Many were abducted during the attack, though the exact number of those taken remains unclear as families are still accounting for missing relatives. Several shops and residential buildings were also looted and damaged.
The attack has deepened fears in Kaura Namoda, an area that has repeatedly come under siege by armed groups in recent months. Farmers have been abandoning their fields, while traders in Kasuwar Daji market say business has been paralyzed since the incident. Many residents who fled the community spent the night in nearby villages, saying they were afraid the bandits would return.
Reacting to the incident, the Zamfara State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, popularly known as Bakauye strongly condemned the attack and described it as senseless violence against both security personnel and civilians.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Dr. Shehu Gusau expressed condolences to the families of the slain soldiers and to the Nigerian Army. He said the country owes a debt of gratitude to men and women in uniform who continue to risk their lives to protect communities despite limited resources and mounting threats.
He also sympathized with those who sustained injuries during the attack and with families who lost property to the fire and looting. “My heart goes out to every family that is grieving today in Kasuwar Daji. No community should have to live in fear like this,” he said.
The PDP candidate further prayed for the safe release of those abducted, asking Allah to intervene and bring an end to the wave of violence plaguing Zamfara. “This problem has gone on for too long. We must find the political will and the security strategy to rescue our people and restore peace,” he added.
Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau called on federal and state authorities to urgently reinforce security in Kaura Namoda and other flashpoints across the state. He said beyond military response, there is a need for intelligence gathering, community policing, and investment in livelihoods to address the root causes of banditry.
The attack in Kasuwar Daji is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have kept Zamfara in a state of emergency for years. Despite repeated security operations, bandits continue to operate freely in parts of the state, kidnapping for ransom, rustling cattle, and attacking villages with little resistance.
Community leaders in Kaura Namoda are appealing for immediate intervention, saying the people can no longer cope with the cycle of attacks and abductions. They urged government at all levels to treat the situation as a national emergency and deploy more resources to protect lives.
As of Sunday evening, security forces were said to be conducting search operations around Kasuwar Daji and surrounding forests in an effort to track the attackers and rescue those kidnapped. Residents, however, say they need sustained presence, not just reaction after an attack.
The people of Zamfara continue to pray for peace, even as they bury their dead and wait for news of those taken by the gunmen.
