Dozens Of Women, Children Missing In Zamfara Community After Fresh Attacks By Bandits
The attack has left the community in chaos as dozens of armed men on motorbikes stormed the area, firing indiscriminately and setting homes and businesses ablaze.
Suspected bandits have kidnapped at least 46 people, including women and children, during a violent raid on Gana town in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria.
The attack has left the community in chaos as dozens of armed men on motorbikes stormed the area, firing indiscriminately and setting homes and businesses ablaze.
It was gathered that the bandits operated unchallenged for hours, rounding up their captives before retreating into the forest.
“They came in large numbers and started shooting. People ran in all directions, but they still managed to take many of our loved ones,” a resident said.
A local traditional leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the abductions, adding that the victims picked since Sunday included several women and children.
He lamented the lack of security presence in the area, describing the attack as a “devastating blow to the community.”
This incident comes on the heels of a similar mass kidnapping in Zamfara last month, raising concerns over escalating insecurity in the region.
However, despite ongoing military operations to curb banditry, attacks have continued to threaten lives and livelihoods in Zamfara and neighboring states.
Reuters reports that efforts to contact Zamfara police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar for comment were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.
Northwest Nigeria continues to grapple with violent attacks by armed gangs, locally known as bandits, who wreak havoc through killings and kidnappings.
Meanwhile, their victims include residents, farmers, students, and motorists, many of whom are held for ransom.
Alhaji Garba Haure, a traditional leader in Gana, credited government security forces for preventing the attackers from burning down the entire town.
He confirmed that no lives were lost but said, “We have 46 men, women, and children abducted so far, and the number is still rising.”
Bala Harauma, a resident, suggested the number of abductees might be higher. He said six people escaped while the captors were moving them early Monday morning.
Another resident, Yusuf Mohammed, reported that the bandits torched dozens of homes and silos filled with food supplies.
Residents also revealed that captives from a previous attack in December were released after a ransom was paid.
