Communities in Zamfara’s Tsafe Local Government Area were hit by a series of coordinated assaults on Sunday evening, with armed groups attacking four villages in rapid succession and leaving at least 18 people dead. The incidents highlight the deepening security crisis in northwestern Nigeria, where rural communities remain exposed despite ongoing military operations.

Local accounts shared by residents and community monitors indicate that the attacks swept across Gidan Dawa, Gangara, Tsagero and Marke. Witnesses said the raids began shortly before dusk, with gunmen arriving on motorcycles and opening fire on residents attempting to flee.

In Gidan Dawa, ten people were shot and four confirmed dead, according to initial reports from community volunteers assisting survivors. Gangara saw three fatalities, and both a school and a residential home were set ablaze during the assault. Tsagero reported six residents killed and three seriously injured, while Marke lost five people and had at least three others abducted.

Local sources say the attackers moved quickly between villages, overwhelming residents who had no advance warning. With security forces stretched thin across the region, communities were left to shelter in place through the night as the situation unfolded.

Zamfara has faced recurring bouts of extreme violence driven by armed groups operating across forest corridors linking several northwestern states. Despite repeated federal and state security deployments, the geography of the area, widespread poverty and limited communications infrastructure have made villages especially vulnerable to sudden raids.

As of Monday morning, neither the Zamfara State Government nor Nigeria’s federal security agencies had issued a comprehensive statement on the attacks. However, local authorities are reportedly compiling casualty lists and coordinating emergency assistance for the affected communities.

Residents say they are exhausted and fearful, calling for stronger protection and sustained military presence. For many, the events of Saturday evening feel like another reminder of a crisis that has become tragically routine.

Axis Signal is monitoring official channels and will update this story as security agencies release verified information.

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