Heavy Firepower Thwarted: Six Bandits Killed As Security Forces Repel Major Zamfara Attack Involving RPGs, Anti-Aircraft Guns

Heavy Firepower Thwarted: Six Bandits Killed As Security Forces Repel Major Zamfara Attack Involving RPGs, Anti-Aircraft Guns

June 10, 2026

A coordinated security operation in Zamfara State has successfully foiled a large-scale bandit attack, killing six suspected attackers and preventing what authorities described as a potentially devastating assault on two communities in Maru Local Government Area.

The Zamfara State Police Command disclosed that the incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday when a heavily armed group of bandits launched an attack on Kanoma Town and Gidan Daji Village. According to security officials, the attackers arrived in large numbers and were equipped with an alarming array of sophisticated weapons, including Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), anti-aircraft guns, and AK-47 rifles.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday that security agencies responded swiftly after receiving distress calls from residents. The rapid response triggered a joint operation involving officers from the Maru Police Division, military personnel attached to Operation Fansar Yamma, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), and local vigilante groups.

Upon arrival, the security team engaged the attackers in an intense gun battle that lasted for several hours. Witnesses reported hearing continuous exchanges of gunfire as security personnel confronted the advancing bandits and prevented them from overrunning the affected communities.

According to the police, the superior coordination and firepower of the joint security team forced the attackers into retreat. During the confrontation, six suspected bandits riding on two motorcycles were neutralised, while several others reportedly sustained gunshot wounds before escaping into nearby forests.

Security sources said the fleeing attackers abandoned parts of their operation after suffering significant losses. Authorities believe many of the wounded suspects may be hiding in remote forest areas and have launched follow-up operations aimed at tracking and apprehending them.

One of the most striking aspects of the attack was the level of weaponry allegedly deployed by the bandits. The reported use of RPGs, anti-aircraft guns and machine guns highlights the growing sophistication of criminal groups operating in parts of Nigeria's North-West region and raises fresh concerns about the proliferation of military-grade weapons among non-state actors.

Despite the scale of the assault, police authorities confirmed that no casualties were recorded among security personnel or residents of the affected communities. The successful defence of the towns has been described as a major victory for security forces battling persistent banditry and rural insecurity across Zamfara State.

Following the operation, the Police Command announced that security has been reinforced across the affected areas. Additional patrols and surveillance activities have been deployed to prevent further attacks and to ensure that fleeing suspects are apprehended.

Residents have also been urged to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence that could assist ongoing operations.

"The Command remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property," the police statement noted, reaffirming the determination of security agencies to combat criminal elements threatening peace and stability in the state.

The latest incident comes amid continued efforts by security forces under Operation Fansar Yamma to dismantle bandit networks operating across Zamfara and neighbouring states. While significant gains have been recorded in recent months, attacks by armed groups remain a major security challenge in the region, often targeting rural communities, travellers and farmers.

As security operations intensify, residents hope the successful repulsion of the latest attack will mark another step toward restoring lasting peace and security across Zamfara State and the wider North-West region.