Residents of Bindin town in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State have protested against the reported withdrawal of military personnel from their community following a deadly bandit attack.
Hundreds of women, many dressed in hijabs, reportedly blocked an armoured military vehicle to prevent soldiers from leaving the area.
The protest followed an attack by bandits linked to notorious kingpin Kachalla Gwaska Dankarami on Bindin and Gobirawar Chali communities on Monday. The attack reportedly killed at least nine security personnel and an unspecified number of civilians.
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Residents expressed fears that the withdrawal of troops could expose Bindin and surrounding communities to further attacks.
Conflict reporter Bakatsine, who shared images of the protest, said residents took to the streets to demand that security personnel remain in the area.
A video shared on X by OSINT analyst Usman also showed a large crowd, mostly women in hijabs, surrounding an armoured military vehicle as soldiers attempted to address them.
The protesters reportedly insisted that the continued presence of the military was necessary to protect the community from bandit attacks.
The development comes amid growing security concerns across Zamfara State, where armed groups have continued to carry out attacks despite ongoing military operations.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Defence Headquarters and the Nigerian Army concerning the reported troop withdrawal were unsuccessful at the time of filing the report.
The protest reflects growing concerns among residents of northwestern communities who fear that reduced military presence could leave them more exposed to attacks.
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