Bandits have killed at least 50 residents of Dutsin Dan Ajiya village in Zamfara State’s Anka Local Government area, according to a report by PUNCH. The attack occurred on Thursday night, with the bandits blocking access roads and shooting at sight. Many residents were abducted, and several others are missing.

A resident of the village, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the bandits, who carried sophisticated weapons, raided the village on Thursday night and shot sporadically. “After blocking all the roads, the bandits started to shoot at sight and the villagers ran helter-skelter,” the resident said, as quoted by PUNCH.

The report added that the attackers also abducted many residents during the raid which lasted till the wee hours of Friday. Reuters also reported that at least 50 people were killed in the attack, citing a lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, Hamisu Faru, who said the attackers raided the village from around 5pm on Thursday until about 3:30am on Friday, burning down buildings and shooting residents who tried to flee.

The attack has sparked concerns over security in the region, with residents calling for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks. The state government had recently donated Armoured Personnel Carriers and a drone to security personnel to fight banditry, but the attack highlights ongoing security concerns.