On Thursday, September 12, 2024, tragedy struck in Zamfara State when armed bandits launched an attack on construction workers, killing five policemen and three soldiers. The attack took place on the Funtua-Gusau highway near Yandoton-Tsafe village in Tsafe Local Government Area.

The policemen and soldiers were providing security for workers from Setraco Nigeria Limited, a construction company tasked with repairing the Gusau-Tsafe-Zaria road. According to a local resident, Mubarak Mohammed, the bandits had been hiding near the road and ambushed the security personnel as they arrived at the construction site.

A fierce gunfight broke out, resulting in the deaths of the policemen and soldiers, while some bandits were also killed. The attack caused chaos on the highway, with motorists abandoning their vehicles and fleeing for their lives.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident, but stated that details were still being gathered as officers were in the field carrying out rescue operations.

Locals believe that the notorious bandit leader, Dan Yusuf, may have been behind the attack. Dan Yusuf is the younger brother of another infamous bandit, Ado Alliero, who has also terrorized the region.

This tragic event is yet another reminder of the ongoing security challenges in Zamfara, where bandit attacks have become a regular threat to both locals and those working in the area.