In one of the deadliest attacks on the route in 2026, bandits ambushed travellers along the Magami–Dansadau highway in Zamfara State on Sunday evening, killing 30 people.

The spokesman for the Zamfara Community Protection Guard, Malam Abubakar Gummi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Monday, explained that the attackers targeted motorists and commuters between Magami and Gusau, opening fire on vehicles in a coordinated ambush.

Malam Abubakar confirmed, “21 civilians, 8 local hunters, and one community protection guard were killed in the assault.”

According to Gummi, security operatives and community guards engaged the bandits in a gun duel following the attack. He explained that during the exchange, scores of bandits were neutralised, although he did not give an exact figure for the militants’ casualties.

Despite ongoing military and community-led operations, the Magami–Dansadau highway has long remained a flashpoint for banditry in Zamfara South, with frequent attacks on travellers, farmers and traders.

The route links several rural communities to Gusau, the state capital, making it a vital but dangerous corridor for movement and commerce.

The victims’ bodies, according to security sources, have been recovered and taken to nearby health facilities, while survivors are receiving treatment for varying degrees of injuries sustained during the ambush.

The Zamfara State Government is yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of press time.