By Deborah Nnamdi
No fewer than 30 people have been killed following a fresh attack by suspected terrorists on Dutsin Dan Ajiya village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The assault occurred on Thursday, February 19, 2026, when heavily armed attackers riding on motorbikes reportedly surrounded the village, blocking all exit routes before unleashing violence on residents.
The incident came barely 24 hours after the Minister of Defence, Major General Christopher Musa (rtd), visited the state to inaugurate 25 armoured vehicles, surveillance equipment, and drones procured by Governor Dauda Lawal to strengthen security operations.
A resident, Malam Yakubu Dan Ajiya, who narrowly escaped the attack, told reporters by telephone that the assailants stormed the community between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
According to him, the gunmen began shooting sporadically after encircling the village and proceeded to attack homes for several hours.
“They killed about 30 people and abducted many others, taking them into the forest,” he said.
He added that as of Friday morning, several residents remained unaccounted for, aside from those confirmed abducted during the raid.
Zamfara State has in recent years witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups, with rural communities frequently targeted in raids marked by killings and mass abductions.
