A desperate attempt by a family to escape abduction ended in tragedy in Zamfara State, after suspected bandits allegedly set their home on fire, killing all 12 occupants trapped inside.
The victims, said to be members of the family of Mallam Muhammadu Sani, died when gunmen attacked Gidan Taba village in Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward, Maradun Local Government Area.
The attackers reportedly stormed the community in the early hours of Saturday, triggering panic among residents as they moved around in what sources described as an abduction operation.
As the gunmen closed in, Sani reportedly gathered his wife and other family members in one room, hoping to prevent them from being taken away.
But the family’s attempt to keep the attackers out proved fatal.
According to a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the gunmen discovered the room where the family was hiding and ordered them to open the door.
When the occupants refused, the attackers allegedly set the building ablaze, leaving the family members trapped in the flames.
All 12 occupants reportedly died in the fire.
The attack was not limited to the family. Other residents were also said to have been abducted, although the number of those taken away remained unknown as of Sunday.
The bodies of the 12 victims were buried on Sunday morning in accordance with Islamic rites, as relatives and members of the community mourned the loss.
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of rural communities in Zamfara to armed attacks, killings and mass abductions.
As of the time of filing this report, the Zamfara State Government and the police had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.