Bandits invaded farmlands at Goron Namaye community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State yesterday, killing 17 farmers and injuring at least 13 others, according to Amnesty International Nigeria.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Amnesty International Nigeria said the attack occurred as the rainy season sets in, making farming in the state “a matter of life and death.”
“The Nigerian authorities must do more to end the incessant atrocities committed by bandits and other armed groups almost daily,” the organization stated. It added that the authorities’ “lethargy has allowed impunity to flourish and the killings to spread to many parts of the country, inflicting greater suffering on communities who already live in constant fear of the next attack.”
Amnesty International Nigeria also accused the Nigerian government of “gross incompetence” and said it has “failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population and end the intensifying attacks and abductions.”
Goron Namaye is one of several farming communities in Maradun LGA that have faced repeated attacks by armed groups. The latest killings come at the peak of the planting season, raising fears of food insecurity and displacement among farmers who depend on agriculture for survival.
As of press time, security agencies in Zamfara State had not issued an official statement on the incident. Zamfara, along with other states in the Northwest, continues to grapple with banditry, kidnapping, and attacks on rural communities despite ongoing military operations.
Human rights groups have repeatedly called on the federal and state governments to strengthen security, hold perpetrators accountable, and protect farming communities ahead of the farming and harvest season.