Suspected terrorists have reportedly killed several travellers and abducted others after ambushing vehicles along the Magami-Dansadau road in Zamfara, according to Channels Television.
The attack occurred on Sunday between 4pm and 5pm near Dogosatsin village, a notorious flashpoint for bandit attacks in the north-western state. Residents said the victims were travelling under military escort when the gunmen struck.
A local resident, who spoke anonymously for security reasons, told the broadcaster that at least 10 bodies had been recovered following the assault, while several others sustained injuries.
According to the report, the attackers opened fire on the operational vehicle escorting commuters travelling from Magami to Dansadau. Both civilians and security personnel were said to be among those killed and injured.
The injured victims were initially taken to Magami General Hospital before plans were made to transfer them to Gusau for further treatment. However, the evacuation was reportedly delayed due to the absence of security escorts.
Residents also claimed an unspecified number of travellers were abducted during the attack before troops pushed the assailants back into the bush.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed awareness of the incident but said casualty figures were still being verified.
The Gusau-Magami-Dansadau road has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous routes in Zamfara, with frequent cases of kidnappings, ambushes and deadly bandit attacks.