The wave of insecurity ravaging Zamfara State took another deadly turn on Friday when armed bandits stormed a mosque at Yandoto village in Tsafe Local Government Area, killing worshippers in cold blood. The attack, which happened during prayers, has once again brought to the fore the escalating violence in Nigeria’s North-West and the urgent need for decisive government action.
How the Attack Happened
According to eyewitnesses, the armed assailants arrived at Yandoto village in large numbers on motorcycles, heavily armed with sophisticated weapons. Villagers recounted that the bandits surrounded the mosque during prayer sessions and opened fire indiscriminately on worshippers.
“They came when people were praying. They blocked the entrance and started shooting. Many people were killed inside the mosque,” said one survivor, whose brother was among those slain.
The attackers, believed to be operating from one of the many forest hideouts that stretch across Zamfara and neighbouring states, reportedly fled the scene immediately after the assault, leaving behind a trail of sorrow and grief.
Casualties and Humanitarian Toll
Although the exact number of victims has not yet been officially confirmed, local residents say dozens of worshippers lost their lives in the brutal attack. Many others sustained injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to stampede-related trauma, as panicked worshippers tried to escape the gunfire.
Community leaders described the massacre as one of the deadliest incidents in Tsafe Local Government Area in recent months. Hospitals in nearby Gusau, the state capital, are said to be overwhelmed with the injured, while families continue the grim task of identifying bodies for burial.
The killings have left Yandoto village in mourning, with several families wiped out or deeply affected. Survivors say they fear further attacks, as security presence in the area remains inadequate.
A Familiar Pattern of Violence
This is not the first time Zamfara communities have been targeted in such brazen attacks. For years, rural villages in the state have come under siege from armed groups locally referred to as “bandits.” These groups are notorious for attacking markets, places of worship, schools, and highways, often leaving behind death and destruction.
The attacks have displaced thousands of residents, with many forced to flee to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps or to neighbouring states. Farmers have abandoned their farmlands for fear of being kidnapped or killed, worsening the food insecurity crisis already gripping the country.
In Tsafe alone, several villages have been sacked in the past year, with residents lamenting the slow response of security agencies to distress calls during attacks.
Security Response
At the time of filing this report, security operatives had reportedly been deployed to Yandoto village. However, community members expressed frustration that the deployment often comes after attacks, rather than preventing them.
A source within the Zamfara State Police Command confirmed that officers had been dispatched to the area, but declined to provide casualty figures until “full details are available.”
The Zamfara State Government is yet to issue an official statement, though it has previously condemned similar attacks and promised to work with federal authorities to restore peace.
Military operations are ongoing in the North-West, including air raids targeting bandit camps, but residents say the operations have not stopped the terror groups from launching retaliatory strikes on unprotected communities.
Voices of Anguish from the Community
Residents of Yandoto described the massacre as a devastating blow to their community spirit. A local cleric, who narrowly escaped death during the attack, said:
“People were on their knees praying to God when the killers came. It was like slaughtering chickens. These bandits do not fear God or man. How long will innocent people continue to die like this?”
Another villager noted that several children were orphaned by the attack, with many families losing their breadwinners. He added that the community now lives in constant fear, unsure of when the next assault might come.
National Outcry
News of the massacre has sparked outrage across Nigeria. Civil society groups, religious leaders, and security analysts have renewed calls on the federal government to overhaul its counter-insurgency strategy.
The attack has also deepened concerns about the vulnerability of religious spaces, which should ordinarily be sanctuaries of peace and safety. Muslim clerics across the North have condemned the attack, describing it as an affront to Islam and humanity.
The Bigger Picture: Zamfara’s Security Crisis
Zamfara State has, in the past decade, become one of the epicenters of armed banditry in Nigeria. What began as small-scale cattle rustling has evolved into large-scale terrorism, with criminal groups carrying out mass killings, kidnappings for ransom, and extortion of entire communities.
The difficult terrain of Zamfara, with vast forests providing cover for armed groups, has complicated military efforts. Bandits are also believed to have access to illegal arms supplied through porous borders, further emboldening them.
Security experts argue that beyond military action, addressing the root causes of banditry—including poverty, unemployment, and lack of governance in rural areas—is crucial to ending the violence.
Calls for Government Action
Nigerians are demanding urgent and concrete action from both federal and state governments. Some have called for improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies, and deployment of more troops to vulnerable communities.
Human rights advocates are also pushing for psychosocial support for victims of such attacks, many of whom suffer long-term trauma.
“The people of Zamfara cannot be left to face this level of violence alone. The government must treat this as a national emergency,” one rights activist noted.
A Community in Mourning
As families in Yandoto prepare for mass burials, grief hangs heavy in the air. Survivors recount the harrowing moments of the attack, struggling to comprehend the scale of the tragedy. Children wail for lost parents, while elders lament the destruction of a once-thriving community.
For many residents, the attack on the mosque is more than just another act of violence—it is an assault on their faith, their security, and their very way of life.
Conclusion
The massacre at Yandoto village’s mosque underscores the grim reality of Nigeria’s security crisis, particularly in Zamfara State. It highlights the vulnerability of rural communities, the audacity of criminal groups, and the urgent need for a coordinated national response.
Until concrete steps are taken to address the root causes and strengthen security presence, tragedies like the Yandoto mosque massacre risk becoming recurring headlines. For the grieving families, however, the pain is beyond statistics—it is a devastating loss that words may never fully capture.
