No fewer than five military personnel and ten villagers, all traders from Lilo Village in the Mada District of Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, were killed by armed bandits.
The attack occurred along the Lilo–Gulubba Road while troops were escorting the traders to the Gusau market.
The assailants, who had laid an ambush, reportedly emerged from their hiding place and opened fire on the convoy.
Community leaders at a briefing yesterday at the Zamfara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the attack as yet another blow to residents already traumatised by repeated assaults from armed groups.
“The bandits emerged from hiding and attacked our convoy. The soldiers fought back bravely in a heavy exchange of gunfire. Sadly, five soldiers lost their lives, and ten villagers were killed. Some passengers were injured, while others escaped into the bush,” an eyewitness recounted.
Meanwhile, leaders of Lilo and neighboring communities have appealed to local, state, and federal governments to provide urgent assistance, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare, road construction, and security.
They urged the government to provide urgent support, including enhanced security, improved road networks, healthcare access, and investment in schools to alleviate the hardships faced by their communities.
“Our people live in fear every day. We need the government to act quickly, not just with guns, but with infrastructure and social services that will give us a chance at normal life,” another leader said.
When contacted, Captain David Adewusi, the Army’s Media Information Officer, said he had not yet received a detailed briefing on the incident but promised to release information as it became available.
