Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be bandits, have reportedly ambushed and killed six operatives of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards commonly referred to as Askarawa, along with four local vigilantes in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The tragic incident occurred as the security personnel were returning from a coordinated operation alongside the Nigerian Army, which had successfully neutralized several bandits.
However, as they made their way back, they fell into an ambush set by some bandits, resulting in the loss of ten lives.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, confirmed the attack, revealing that the victims were part of a team that had carried out a mission in Anka before being ambushed near the Bagega axis.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page, Lawal detailed that six members of the Community Protection Guards and four vigilantes, also known as “Yan Sakai,” were killed in the attack.
Additionally, three individuals, two CPG operatives and one local vigilante—remain missing.
“I got information that gunmen ambushed some Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, CPG, in Anka Local Government. The incident occurred yesterday when security forces and the State Community Protection Guards, CPG, led by the Nigerian Army attacked the hideouts of the bandits and successfully neutralized several bandits and recovered their weapons.
“The information made available to me that on their way back that when the bandits ambushed them at Bagega and open fire on them killing six Zamfara Community Protection Guards, CPG, and four Yansakai which their burial was conducted Sunday’s morning,” the governor stated.
Zamfara State remains one of the most affected regions in the North-West and North-Central zones, grappling with persistent banditry and violent attacks.
