12 family members killed in Zamfara raid

Twelve members of a family died after attackers set fire to a room where they had taken shelter during a Saturday-night raid in Maradun, Zamfara State, according to a local district official. The number of residents abducted remains disputed: a resident reported seven, while the local government chairman said the count had not been established and that some captives were released.

Sanusi Ahmad, Maradun district’s political administrator, said Malam Sani and 11 relatives locked themselves inside a room as armed men raided their village. When the attackers could not enter, they set the room alight from outside, Ahmad said. He attended the family’s funeral on Sunday.

Bello Muhammad, a village resident, said seven other residents were abducted, including six women and a 10-year-old boy. The Maradun local government chairman, Sanusi Ahmed Dosara, separately confirmed that residents had been taken but said officials had not determined how many. Dosara said local vigilantes blocked the attackers after an exchange of gunfire and secured the release of some abducted residents.

Dosara said the attackers fired in different directions, confusing security personnel and concealing their...