For families in Zamfara State’s Dansadau District, each new day begins with fear and uncertainty as armed bandits continue to tighten their grip on several communities, leaving thousands of residents trapped in their own villages.
With no safe way in or out of dozens of affected communities for about 10 days, many villagers now live under constant threat of attack, while others have fled their homes in search of safety.
Amnesty International said the humanitarian situation is worsening, urging the Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to end what it described as a prolonged siege by armed bandits.
According to the organisation, bandits invaded Yar Gada village on Tuesday, deliberately setting vehicles on fire as terrified residents ran in different directions to escape.
It also noted that travelling along the Magami-Dansadau Road has become so dangerous that commuters have depended on military escorts for years.
Some residents claimed they received phone calls warning them of impending attacks. They also alleged that the bandits demanded huge sums of money, threatening to kill or abduct anyone who failed to pay.
Describing the situation as “Nigeria’s forgotten conflict,” Amnesty International said, “The authorities’ failure to protect has left villagers in Zamfara at the mercy of armed bandits, who have killed hundreds of people over the course of 10 bloody years.”
The organisation added, “The crisis in Zamfara is making life hell for villagers, yet it is clearly low down on the list of government priorities.”
Amnesty International further said, “The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly claimed to be tackling the situation, but the mounting death toll tells a different story.”
For many families in Dansadau, the crisis is no longer only about insecurity. It is about survival. Parents are struggling to protect their children, farmers cannot safely access their fields, and residents remain unsure of when they will be able to live without fear. As attacks continue, many are hoping for swift government intervention before more lives are lost.