A man in Zamfara State was reportedly shot in both legs by suspected bandits after he resisted an attempted kidnapping, residents and community sources said on Monday, February 2, 2026. The incident highlights the continuing insecurity facing many communities in north-west Nigeria, where armed criminal gangs have carried out frequent abductions and attacks on civilians.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victim was traveling on a rural road in a local area of Zamfara when a group of armed assailants on motorcycles stopped his vehicle and demanded he accompany them. When he resisted, the gunmen allegedly opened fire, hitting him in both legs before fleeing the scene. Residents said the injured man was rushed to a nearby health facility for treatment.
The attack came amid a broader surge in violent banditry across Zamfara and neighbouring states, where criminal gangs have kidnapped residents, killed travellers and engaged security forces in ambushes. One community source said such incidents underscore the urgency of intensified security patrols and coordinated responses by authorities to protect civilians.
State and federal security officials have not yet released an official statement on the shooting, but bandit attacks with shootings, abductions and ransom demands continue to disrupt daily life for rural populations in the region. Residents and local leaders have repeatedly called for stronger deployment of troops and effective intelligence operations to deter criminal gangs terrorising their communities.