KEY POINTS

• Angry youths blocked Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni’s convoy in Gwashi.

• At least 20 people were reportedly killed in an October 11 ambush on traders.

• Residents are demanding stronger government action against banditry.

Angry youths in Gwashi town, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, blocked Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni’s convoy on Sunday during a condolence visit following a bandit attack that reportedly killed at least 20 people.

The youths barricaded the entrance to the town’s market with wooden tables and chanted “Bamayi”, a Hausa expression meaning “We don’t want you”, preventing the convoy from entering the area.

According to SaharaReporters, a video of the incident showed scores of youths blocking the road as tension mounted. The deputy governor and his security team were reportedly forced to take cover as the situation became increasingly hostile.

The protest reflected residents’ anger over persistent insecurity and what they viewed as the government’s delayed response to the deadly attack.

Mummuni had travelled to Gwashi to sympathise with residents over the attack, which occurred the previous week. However, some residents were reportedly angry that no government official had visited the community immediately after the killings.

The incident underscores growing frustration in rural communities across Zamfara, where repeated attacks have left residents vulnerable to armed groups.

Bukkuyum is among the local government areas severely affected by banditry, with communities facing threats to their safety, livelihoods and movement.

The deputy governor’s visit, intended to offer condolences, instead became a confrontation over the authorities’ handling of the security crisis.

As of the time SaharaReporters published its report, the Zamfara State Government had not issued an official statement on the incident. Efforts to reach state police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar for comment were unsuccessful.

Attack on traders’ convoy killed at least 20

The protest followed an October 11 ambush on a convoy of traders travelling from Gwashi district to Nasarawa Market in Bukkuyum Local Government Area under military escort.

At least 20 people were reportedly killed, including four soldiers, three mobile police officers, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and more than 12 civilians.

The attack also disrupted weekly market activities in Gurusu and Nasarawa, affecting communities that depend on trading for their livelihoods.

Residents reportedly accused bandit leader Muhammad Gwaska of responsibility for the assault. However, the report did not indicate whether security agencies had officially confirmed the allegation.

The killings occurred amid other violent incidents in Zamfara, including an attack along the Dansadau road in which 12 vehicles were reportedly set ablaze and the killing of vigilantes in Damba.

The confrontation in Gwashi highlights the growing pressure on state authorities to provide better protection for communities outside Gusau, the state capital.

Repeated attacks have disrupted commercial activities and exposed both civilians and security personnel to danger. The latest incident also illustrates how anger over insecurity can spill into public confrontations with government officials.

Reacting to a video of the protest on X, formerly Twitter, a resident argued that people should express their dissatisfaction through elections rather than blocking roads.

“They have to show BAMAYI (We don’t want you) on the ballot paper, not by blocking roads,” the resident wrote.

The resident also expressed hope for an end to the violence, saying: “May Allah restore peace and security to our state of Zamfara and Nigeria.”

The Zamfara government now faces renewed pressure to address residents’ security concerns as communities continue to deal with the consequences of repeated bandit attacks.