Tragedy on Zamfara river as 13 drown while fleeing from bandits

At least 13 people drowned on a river in Zamfara’s Birnin Magaji ward while attempting to escape bandits’ attack on Friday.

The bandits reportedly stormed two communities in the area, forcing residents to make a desperate bid for safety across a nearby river. Witnesses said only one boat was available, and it was dangerously overloaded with fleeing villagers.

“My eldest son and two other nieces were among the 13 people who died when the boat was heavily overloaded with people,” said Shehu Mohammed, a local health worker.

Maidamma Dankilo, the district head of Birnin Magaji, confirmed that 13 people have been declared dead, 22 rescued, and another 22 remain missing.

The incident comes amid a surge of violent attacks in Zamfara. Just last Saturday, gunmen killed two residents and abducted more than 100 people in Gamdum Mallam and Ruwan Rana villages in Bukkuyum LGA. Earlier in August, armed gangs raided Kauran Namoda LGA, killing 24 people, wounding 16, and kidnapping 144. In July, bandits reportedly executed 33 kidnap victims in Banga town despite receiving a ransom of N50 million.