In another wave of banditry, gunmen launched an attack on Wanke communities near Gusau, Zamfara State, abducting over 100 people, including vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly.
The village’s Chief Imam, who was receiving treatment for a leg injury after a previous abduction, was also seized again, raising deep concerns among locals.
A resident recounted to the BBC Hausa Service the extent of the violence, describing how bandits pursued residents on motorcycles and raided homes. “They chased people like animals,” he said, noting that nearly 100 people were taken from areas around Sabon Layi and Dogon Hayi alone.
Years of relentless attacks have forced many community members to flee to Gusau, leaving homes and farms abandoned. “Staying overnight has become a terrifying prospect,” a survivor explained, highlighting the pervasive fear and insecurity affecting their lives. Villages like Gira, Ruwa Kusa, and Gidan Kado saw personal belongings, food supplies, and motorcycles looted by the attackers.
Despite frantic calls to local officials, the authorities have yet to respond, and there’s been no official police statement on the latest abduction.
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Zamfara, along with other states in Nigeria’s northwest and central regions, has become a hotspot for armed gangs who carry out mass abductions and raids for ransom. These groups have escalated their attacks, with recent incidents in Katsina and Zamfara raising concerns of possible collaboration between bandits and jihadist insurgents active in the northeastern part of the country.
This alarming incident on Wanke communities highlights the ongoing insecurity in Zamfara and neighboring states, which have been plagued by banditry and mass abductions.
Armed gangs, often motivated by financial gain, have increasingly targeted highways, schools, and villages in these regions, disrupting daily life and causing immense fear.
This development adds a complex layer to the insecurity, raising concerns about the effectiveness of ongoing counterinsurgency efforts and the potential for further destabilization in the region.
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