Armed bandits on Wednesday attacked an illegal mining site in the Magami area of Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, killing one person.

The incident, which occurred around 1:30 pm at the Kokamba mining fields, created tension in the community as the gunmen opened fire on unsuspecting miners before retreating into the nearby forest.

A villager, Abubakar Ibrahim, told The Guardian that the victim’s body was taken to a nearby village, sparking fears among residents and raising concerns of a reprisal attack on Fulani communities.

Security agencies have since appealed for calm, urging residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements, and allow operatives to track down the attackers as investigations continue.