Tension as bandits storm Zamfara community, abduct over 100 residents

In another devastating attack on Zamfara State, bandits have struck communities in Wanke, near Gusau, abducting over 100 people, including women, children, and the elderly.

Among the kidnapped is the community’s Chief Imam, who had recently been released from a previous abduction and was recovering from a leg injury.

Local reports indicate this is the second time the Chief Imam has been targeted, underscoring the severe insecurity affecting the region. As of the latest update, neither state authorities nor police officials have issued a statement on the incident.

In an interview monitored on the BBC Hausa Service, a survivor recounted the turmoil in Wanke, with residents fleeing in fear of more attacks.

“Near Sabon Layi, over 50 people were taken, and near Dogon Hayi, about 50 more were abducted,” he said, adding that the exact number was still uncertain due to the chaos and panic that ensued as locals scrambled for safety.

“The terrorists chased people as if they were hunting animals,” he added. “They pursued people on motorbikes, tracked women inside their homes, and abducted them. Some were intercepted while attempting to flee and were herded into the bush.”

He described how the assailants targeted multiple communities, including Gira, Ruwa Kusa, Dogon Hayi, and Gidan Kado, where they stole motorcycles, farm produce, and personal items like smartphones. They also looted shops for provisions.

Community members reportedly alerted officials in Wanke, but there has been no official response yet.

The survivor noted that these attacks have plagued their communities for nearly nine years, driving many residents to seek refuge in Gusau and other areas. “There are no animals here anymore,” he lamented. “Once night falls, everyone is filled with dread, as staying in these communities overnight has become extremely dangerous.”

The BBC Hausa report stated that efforts to obtain police comments on the situation were unsuccessful.