A devastating incident has occurred in Zamfara State as more than 20 farmers were killed and over 50 villagers kidnapped following a bandit attack on Mani community in Maru Local Government Area.

The attack, which took place over the weekend, was further complicated when a military aircraft deployed to provide protection reportedly fired on local vigilantes by mistake, compounding the tragedy.

Security analyst Bakatsine revealed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stating: "Yesterday, bandits attacked Mani community of Maru LGA in Zamfara and killed over 20 farmers. More than 50 persons are still in captivity. A military aircraft that came for protection mistakenly fired on vigilantes."

The exact number of casualties from the military's accidental strike on the vigilantes has not been specified in the report.

As of the time of this report, neither the Zamfara State Government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the incident.

This attack adds to the growing list of violent incidents in Zamfara State, which has been grappling with banditry and kidnappings for several years. The region has seen numerous communities targeted by armed groups, resulting in loss of lives, displacement of residents, and economic hardship.

The involvement of vigilante groups in community defense has become common in areas where security challenges persist, though their operations sometimes lead to complex situations when military interventions occur.

BenriNews will provide updates as more information becomes available from official sources regarding this incident.