Tadurga, Kebbi State | June 17, 2025 — Panic has gripped residents of Tadurga village in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State following a brutal night-time assault by suspected bandits on Monday. The armed assailants reportedly killed dozens, abducted many villagers, and made away with a large number of cattle.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers descended on the community in large numbers, unleashing terror through indiscriminate gunfire and widespread looting. One of the residents, Audu Sule, described the incident as one of the deadliest the village has experienced in recent times.
“They came en masse, shooting sporadically, looting shops before proceeding to kill as many as they could. Many people were also abducted, and they took away a large herd of cattle,” Sule said.
The scale of the attack is yet to be fully assessed, but early reports suggest that the death toll could run into dozens, with families still searching for missing loved ones. The incident marks a major setback to recent security gains made in the area, particularly under the administration of Governor Nasir Idris.
Abdullah Idris Zuru, another resident, noted that improved security in recent months had allowed farmers to return to their fields, resulting in bumper harvests. “The government had restored some confidence. This attack is devastating. It threatens to reverse all the progress we’ve made,” he lamented.
The Kebbi State Police Command has acknowledged the incident. Speaking to reporters, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed that security personnel had been deployed to the area and that investigations were underway.
While the government has not released an official casualty figure, residents continue to reel from the shock and trauma of the attack. Local leaders are calling for urgent intervention to prevent a recurrence and to ensure the safe return of those abducted.
The Tadurga assault adds to the growing list of rural communities in Nigeria’s northwest region grappling with banditry, which has led to widespread displacement, loss of livelihoods, and increased insecurity across several states.
