A 55-year-old woman, Fatima, has recounted the terrifying experiences of residents facing repeated bandit attacks in communities across Zamfara State, saying victims are often left with the painful choice of being shot while trying to escape or abducted if they remain behind.
Fatima said bandits invaded her community in the middle of the night, surrounding the area and blocking possible escape routes.
According to her, the attackers divided themselves into groups, with some positioned at the entrance to the community while others moved from house to house.
She said residents who attempted to flee risked being shot, while those who stayed behind could be abducted by the attackers.
Fatima also alleged that bandits sometimes set houses ablaze, forcing people hiding inside to run out and exposing themselves to further danger.
She recalled that dozens of people, including children, were killed during an attack on Bia Buki village in June. According to her, her husband and six of her seven siblings were among those who lost their lives.
The woman said surviving residents fled into the forest with their children, where they spent time seeking safety before eventually reaching Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
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Fatima is now living in a temporary displacement camp with her seven children, aged between nine and 30.
She described conditions in the camp as difficult, citing inadequate shelter, food shortages and limited assistance for displaced families.
She added that repeated attacks had forced residents to abandon several communities, leaving some villages completely deserted.
The continued banditry in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West has displaced thousands of residents, killed many people and left several communities struggling to rebuild their lives after violent attacks.
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