A violent raid by armed men riding motorbikes in northwestern Nigeria has resulted in the abduction of more than 60 individuals, including women and children.
According to local reports, the North-West region has witnessed a surge in mass abductions in recent years. Armed groups which are referred to locally as bandits, have killed hundreds and kidnapped thousands across various states. These groups often hold captives for extended periods, demanding hefty ransoms for their release.
Traditional chief, Shehu Musa of the affected village in a phone interview told trusted news sources that “More than 60 people were taken, including women and children,” on Monday
In a related attack, the assailants reportedly killed a farmer and abducted his son in the nearby village of Rogoji, Musa added.
The state of Zamfara, which shares a border with Niger, has become the epicenter of such violent activity. The persistent insecurity has severely disrupted farming, hindered transportation, and forced thousands of residents to abandon their homes.
