Bandits Kill Zamfara Health Worker, Abduct Eight In Midnight Raid
By ABDUL AHMED (A. A.) RUFUS
Health Worker Killed in Night Attack on Zurmi Community
SUSPECTED bandits have killed a health worker and abducted at least eight residents during a late-night attack on Moriki community in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, deepening fears over the persistent insecurity in the North-West.
The victim, Malam Lauwali Musa, a health educator serving communities in the Zurmi area, was reportedly killed during the raid, which occurred around midnight on Tuesday and lasted for more than 30 minutes, according to local sources.
Refused Abduction, Shot Dead
Witnesses said the attackers stormed the community in large numbers and went from house to house, abducting residents at gunpoint. When the bandits reached Lauwali Musa’s residence, they attempted to kidnap him and force him into the surrounding bush.
However, a colleague of the slain health worker said Musa refused to go with his attackers.
“They wanted to abduct him and take him into the bush, but he told them he would not follow them,” the colleague said in a telephone interview. “That was when the bandits shot him.”
Musa reportedly died on the spot.
Children Among the Abducted
During the same attack, the bandits abducted eight civilians, including four children of the deceased health worker, further compounding the tragedy for his family.
Residents said the attackers fled the community before security operatives could arrive, leaving behind fear, grief, and unanswered questions.
Police Yet to React
Efforts to reach the Zamfara State Police Command proved unsuccessful, as the police spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to text messages, and his phone line was unreachable as of press time.
Health Workers Under Threat
Health workers have increasingly become targets in Zamfara and other North-West states affected by banditry. Many have been killed, kidnapped, or forced to abandon rural postings, worsening access to healthcare in already vulnerable communities.
The killing of Lauwali Musa has renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect civilians and frontline workers operating in conflict-prone areas of the region.
