At least 14 gold miners have been brutally killed, and several others injured in a broad daylight attack by armed bandits on Gobirawa Chali community in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack, which targeted miners at a local gold mining site, was revealed on Thursday night by security analyst Bakatsine via his X (formerly Twitter) account.
“In broad daylight, bandits attacked Gobirawa Chali community in Maru LGA of Zamfara State. They gruesomely killed 14 gold miners and injured several people during the attack,” Bakatsine wrote.
According to local sources, the bandits stormed the mining site, opening fire on unsuspecting workers before escaping into the surrounding forests. The exact number of injured victims remains unclear, but residents fear the death toll could rise as some of the wounded are in critical condition.
The Zamfara State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the attack. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked renewed concerns over the persistent security crisis in Zamfara, where bandits frequently target mining sites, villages, and travelers for ransom, killings, and looting.
Residents of Maru LGA are calling on security forces to step up operations in the region to prevent further attacks and protect communities vulnerable to banditry.
This latest assault underscores the ongoing insecurity in Nigeria’s northwestern region, where criminal gangs have terrorized rural communities despite government efforts to curb their activities.
