12 Family Members Die After Bandits Set House On Fire

Twelve members of the same family, including a father, his wives and young children, have died from intense heat after bandits set their room ablaze during an attack on Gidan Taba village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The attackers also abducted an unspecified number of residents during the raid on Saturday night in Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the family members had locked themselves inside a room to avoid being kidnapped when the bandits stormed the community.

The attackers reportedly ordered them to open the door but, after they refused, set the room on fire.

The Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, confirmed the incident, describing it as heartbreaking and inhuman.

He said the victims comprised a father, his wives and their young children.

“A father, his wives and small children, 12 of them, were all killed by fire,” Dosara said.

He explained that the victims did not die from direct contact with the flames but from the intense heat generated after the attackers set the room ablaze.

“The bandits set the room ablaze. They were not burnt because the fire engulfed the roofing, but the horrible heat resulted in their death,” he said.

Dosara confirmed that several residents were also abducted, but said local vigilantes managed to rescue some of them after engaging the attackers in a gun duel.

He added that the exact number of abducted residents remained unknown due to the tension in the community.

The chairman said the attackers used diversionary tactics, firing shots in different directions to confuse security personnel and conceal their positions.

He disclosed that he had visited the nearest police mobile base to strengthen security cooperation and prevent further attacks.

The deceased were buried on Sunday morning in accordance with Islamic rites, with Dosara leading the funeral prayers.

The attack has heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of Zamfara, particularly communities along the Gusau-Sokoto highway, where armed bandits have repeatedly carried out attacks, ambushes and kidnappings.

Residents have called on the state government and security agencies to intensify operations to protect communities from further killings and abductions.