Nigeria, July 12 -- Seven people, including women and children, were brutally killed on Thursday evening when suspected bandits attacked a commercial bus along the Tsafe-Funtua road in Zamfara State.

The bands abducted several other passengers in the latest demonstration of escalating insecurity in the region.

The ambush, at around 7 p.m., occurred shortly before the daily road closure - a security measure recently implemented by the Zamfara State Government to curb attacks on commuters.

Witnesses recounted a scene of horror. "The bandits were just riding on the road when they spotted the bus and immediately began shooting," a source, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, told PREMIUM TIMES.

"The vehicle was carrying wo...