At least 30 bandits have been killed in a deadly clash between rival groups in Kawaye village of Anka Local Government in Zamfara State over rustled cattle distribution.
The deadly fight which ensued during a dispute over the distribution of stolen cattle also led to many bandits sustaining serious injuries.
A source familiar with the bandits’ operation said the fight is a power struggle between two bandits’ groups led by Kachalla Halilu and Bello Kaura.
Zamfara community residents told VOA Hausa that the conflict began when the bandits, who had driven the stolen cattle started dividing their loot among themselves.
The Clash
A disagreement arose over the unequal distribution of the cattle, leading to a deadly exchange of gunfire between the two factions. “The bandits were fighting over the distribution of the stolen cattle, which led to a shootout. As a result, 30 bandits were killed, and around 20 others are currently receiving medical treatment,” a resident said.
Another resident noted that the violence even impacted gold miners in the forest, who were caught in the crossfire between the warring bandit groups. “They had stolen more than 1,000 cattle and camels from the Saktowa area. The fight led to casualties from civilians, with about 17 bodies currently lying in Nasarawa Hospital,” the resident added.
Mannir Sani Fura-Girke, a journalist who is familiar with the activities of bandits activities in Zamfara said the rift resulted in around 20 deaths on each side, with approximately 30 others injured.
He revealed that the conflict stemmed from a power struggle between the group of Kachalla Halilu and Bello Kaura, who is the eldest son of the late notorious bandit leader Alhaji Sha-Dari, killed by the Nigerian Army in recent months.
Mannir added that the bandits’ inter-group clash has not only claimed the lives of the bandits but also affected innocent civilians, including the miners in the area.
WikkiTimes’s efforts to reach out to the Zamfara State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful. ASP Abubakar Yazid, the command’s Spokesman did not pick up a phone call and did not respond to a message sent to him at the press time.
Zamfara Banditry
For over a decade, bandits operating in Zamfara State and the broader northwestern region have inflicted significant devastation, claimed thousands of lives and caused the destruction of property worth millions of naira.
These armed groups, initially driven by cattle rustling, have evolved into organized criminal networks engaged in mass abductions, killings, and extortion. Their activities have led to the displacement of several communities, leaving a trail of human and economic losses.
Despite security interventions, the bandits continue to terrorize the region, worsening the already humanitarian crisis and contributing to widespread security concerns across northwestern Nigeria.
