At least 30 suspected armed bandits loyal to a notorious kingpin known as Dan Rani were neutralized in a deadly ambush laid by local vigilante operatives, popularly referred to as Yansakai, near Dansadau town in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The operation, which occurred on Friday, April 4, around 2:00 p.m., was confirmed by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, in a post on his X handle on Sunday.
According to intelligence sources cited by Makama, the bandits were reportedly en route to launch an assault on a nearby village when they walked into a trap set by the vigilantes at the outskirts of Dansadau.
A fierce gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of more than two dozen of the assailants.
Sixteen motorcycles believed to belong to the gunmen were recovered at the scene of the ambush.
In a separate but related incident, the body of a local Community Protection Guard (CPG) operative, Ashiru Dawa, was discovered in the early hours of Friday near the Gidan Kano area. Dawa, who had previously been abducted by suspected bandits, was found dead in the bush at around 6:00 a.m.
His remains were taken to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examination before being released to his family for burial in line with Islamic rites.
The latest development comes amid growing efforts by local vigilantes and security agencies to tackle the menace of rural banditry that has plagued communities across Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.
