…Victims include villagers, butchers, animal dealers
Zamfara State has once again come under the grip of banditry as gunmen abducted at least 79 persons in separate attacks across Bukkuyum and Gusau local government areas of the state.
According to reports by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, heavily armed bandits invaded Buzugu and Rayau villages in Bukkuyum LGA around 2:45 a.m. on October 18, abducting 73 residents and whisking them away to an unknown destination. The attackers, said to be in large numbers and wielding sophisticated weapons, operated for several hours unchallenged.
A few hours later, another group of bandits struck along the Gusau–Dansadau road, kidnapping six butchers and animal dealers who were returning from the Magajin Maitarko market. The victims were ambushed near the Dogon Santsi forest in Gusau LGA.
One of the victims’ relatives, Ishiaku Umar, told reporters that the bandits opened fire on the traders, injuring one of them, who is now in critical condition. He said the abductors contacted the families through the phone of one of the victims, demanding ₦2 million ransom for the wounded trader while remaining silent about the fate of the other five.
“Our abducted brother pleaded that we should sell his house and pay the ransom so they can release him. We’re currently struggling to raise the money,” Umar said.
Confirming the development, a leader of animal dealers in the state, Malam Aminu, disclosed that four of their members were among those abducted.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the command was yet to receive an official report about the Gusau incident but urged residents to promptly report such cases to enable swift intervention.
Meanwhile, security sources in Bukkuyum confirmed that efforts are on-going to rescue the 73 abducted villagers and restore normalcy in the affected communities, in collaboration with local vigilante groups.
Zamfara has witnessed a resurgence of violent attacks in recent months. Earlier this month, 30 residents were kidnapped in Zamfarawa village in the Zugu district of Bukkuyum LGA, while two councillors and an imam were abducted in Tsauni community, Gusau LGA. In September, armed bandits killed five worshippers during a mosque attack in Yandoto, Tsafe LGA.
The spate of abductions has deepened fears among residents, who are calling on the state and federal authorities to intensify security operations and bring lasting peace to the troubled North-West state.
