Bandits have killed a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, in Kaura Namoda town, Zamfara State.

The governor’s aide, Hon. Nasiru Sani Kaura, was reportedly shot dead when the bandits attacked the Low cost area of Kaura Namoda in the early hours of Sunday.

Residents said the attackers stormed the neighbourhood while Muslims were observing the early morning Subh (Fajr) prayer, shooting sporadically and forcing people to flee for safety.

Nasiru, a grassroots politician and community leader, was reportedly killed during the attack.

His death has triggered grief in Kaura Namoda and other parts of the state, with sympathisers describing his killing as a great loss to the community.

His funeral prayer was subsequently observed in accordance with Islamic rites.

The killing has also renewed concerns over the security situation in Kaura Namoda and other parts of Zamfara North, where communities have continued to experience bandit attacks, killings and abductions.

Residents have called on the state government and security agencies to intensify efforts to protect lives and property, particularly in residential communities.

In a separate development, the Zamfara State Police Command said it had rescued 19 kidnapped victims, comprising women and children, after 22 days in bandits’ captivity.

The victims were abducted from Tungar Haki Village, through Wanke, in Gusau Local Government Area, and taken to a bandits’ hideout around Kungurmi Village.

The police said the victims were rescued on Saturday, November 14, at about 10am during a coordinated operation involving operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, police personnel attached to Government House, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and local hunters.

The operation followed credible intelligence on the whereabouts of the victims.

A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said all 19 victims were found unharmed and had since been reunited with their families.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Muhammad Bello, commended the joint security team for their courage, professionalism and collaboration, which led to the successful rescue.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other criminal activities, while urging residents to provide security agencies with timely and credible information.

The two incidents came amid persistent security challenges in Zamfara, particularly in communities in the northern part of the state, where banditry has continued to threaten residents and disrupt normal activities. (Weekend Trust, excluding headline)