Twelve members of the same household died tragically in Zamfara State after suspected bandits set fire to their residence during an early morning raid on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The deadly assault unfolded in Gidan Taba village, situated within the Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward of Maradun Local Government Area, leaving the local community in deep mourning.
According to local reports, the attack began in the dead of night when armed men invaded the community. In a desperate bid to protect his household from being abducted, a resident identified as Mallam Muhammadu Sani reportedly gathered his 12 family members and locked them inside a single room within the building.
What happened when the bandits arrived?
Upon storming the property, the assailants discovered that the occupants had barricaded themselves inside. Eyewitnesses stated that the gunmen commanded those inside to unlock the entrance, but the family members refused to comply. In retaliation for their refusal, the attackers poured an accelerant and set the house on fire, trapping all 12 individuals inside and causing their deaths from the blaze.
Beyond the fatalities recorded at the home, the armed group also seized an unspecified number of other community members during the operation. Local sources noted that the exact headcount of those taken captive remained unconfirmed as the situation unfolded. Following the tragedy, the remains of the 12 deceased family members were recovered and laid to rest in accordance with Islamic burial rites on Sunday morning.