Commuters and commercial drivers plying the Gusau–Tsafe highway in Zamfara State say the enhanced military presence in the area has brought renewed hope for safe travel after years of fear and deadly bandit attacks.

Zagazola Makama report that the highway, once a corridor of terror where bandits routinely blocked roads, abducted travellers, and ransacked surrounding villages, is now seeing relative calm within the last few months due to intensified operations by Nigerian Army troops, particularly along the Tsafe- Gusau road.

Commercial driver, Usman Bala, who plies the Gusau–Funtua route daily, said that the change is noticeable.

“We used to drive with our hearts in our mouths. Anytime we passed Dan Mali or Babban Kauye, we prayed hard. But now, soldiers are stationed at key flashpoints. You feel a sense of safety you haven’t felt in years,” he said.

Another commercial driver, Musa Lawali, echoed Bala’s sentiment, noting that bandits used to operate with impunity around Makera and Asaula.

“Before, we avoided evening trips. From 4:30 p.m., the road was a death trap. But now, I can move even close to 7 p.m. because I know troops are patrolling. Their presence alone scares the criminals,” Lawali said.

Private motorist Amina Idris, who travels from Gusau to Tsafe weekly for business, said her confidence has improved with every trip.

“I used to dread the journey, especially at Bamamu and Tashan Jirgi axis. I would call my family before I left and when I arrived. Now, I see military checkpoints and even patrols. It’s encouraging,” she said.

Similarly, Dauda Garba, a truck driver who frequently passes through Tsafe, described a recent encounter where troops responded swiftly to an attempted roadblock by suspected bandits.

“They came in within minutes. We saw the gun trucks approach, and the criminals ran. That kind of quick response saves lives,” Garba said.

Another commuter, Suleiman Ibrahim, who drives a private vehicle between Tsafe and Yankara, confirmed that the fear of daytime travel has reduced significantly.

“Before now, even private motorists had to follow convoys or wait for military escort. Now, we go freely. The presence of troops has changed the game,” he said.

But despite the improvements, traditional leaders and community stakeholders are calling for additional measures particularly night patrols to tackle nocturnal attacks.

The Yandoton Tsafe, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Bawa, commended the military for recent gains but warned that many villages on the fringes of Tsafe are still vulnerable to night raids.

“We have seen progress in the last few weeks. Our roads are safer by day. But the bandits now operate at night. They move through forest corridors and attack villages like Makera, Bamamu, Tashan Jirgi, Dan Mali, Asaula, and Babban Kauye under cover of darkness,” he said.

Another sources from Tsafe identified some of the notorious elements behind these attacks, including a bandit leader known as Bakin Malam, and others such as Hassan Fari, Sarki, son of notorious bandit Ado Allero, and Umaru, son of kingpin Anaruwa.

“These are not petty criminals. They are experienced and armed. We appeal to the Nigerian Army to extend their operations to night patrols. That is when these terrorists strike the most,” he added.

He urged the deployment of additional combat platforms like CSK gun trucks and surveillance drones to cover forest routes and hard-to-reach enclaves where bandits regroup after daytime setbacks.

Despite the lingering threats, residents are beginning to reclaim their confidence, a development largely attributed to the recent push by the Nigerian Army to dominate key transportation routes and neutralise armed groups.

By: Zagazola Makama