Gunmen Kill Security Volunteer and His Relatives in Zamfara Village Attack

Gunmen killed a local security volunteer and 10 of his relatives, burned their bodies, torched their home and abducted 13 others in a weekend attack on Gidan Taba village in Maradun district, Zamfara state, in northwestern Nigeria, police said on Monday, November 9, 2026. The attack happened on Saturday night, November 7. That account, including the toll of 11 killed and 13 abducted, was given by Zamfara police to Reuters.

Targeted for helping security forces

Police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar said the gunmen attacked the volunteer in Gidan Taba after he repeatedly helped security forces fend off incursions by criminal gangs into the community. Abubakar said the attackers killed the man, a member of a government backed vigilante group, before murdering 10 other members of his family and setting their house on fire.

"They considered him an obstacle to their activities," Abubakar said, via Reuters.

A second account gives a higher family toll

AFP reported a different toll for the same Saturday night attack, citing Maradun district political administrator Sanusi Ahmad and two residents. In that account, a man identified as Malam Sani and 11 family members locked themselves in a room, and the bandits set fire to the room from outside.

"When the bandits failed to break down the door to take the family, they set fire to the room from outside," Ahmad said, via AFP.

"This led to the death of all 12 people trapped inside, who died from heat and suffocation," he said.

AFP reported that seven other residents were abducted, including six women and a 10 year old boy, according to resident Bello Muhammad.

The two reports do not agree. Reuters, citing police, reports 11 killed and 13 abducted. AFP, citing the district administrator and residents, reports 12 killed and seven abducted. Each figure in this article is kept with the source that reported it.

Security forces deployed

Abubakar said security forces have been deployed in the area and are working to secure the release of the hostages.

Northwestern Nigeria has for years faced attacks by armed gangs known locally as bandits, who raid villages, kill residents, abduct people for ransom and loot homes. Volunteer groups help defend villages and towns as security forces are stretched, Reuters reported. The Gidan Taba volunteer was part of that local defense, a member of a government backed vigilante group who had repeatedly helped security forces keep gangs out of his community, police said.