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Once again, bandits have unleashed terror in Zamfara State, this time targeting communities in Wanke, located close to the state capital, Gusau. Over 100 people, including women, children, and the elderly, were abducted during the attack, adding to the rising toll of insecurity in the region.
Among the victims of the latest abduction in Zamfara was the community’s Chief Imam, who had just been released from a prior kidnapping. He was undergoing treatment for a leg injury at the time of the attack, highlighting the cruel and relentless nature of the bandits’ actions.
Local reports confirm that this is the Chief Imam’s second abduction, revealing the brutal pattern of criminal activity that continues to terrorize the area, with no respite for those previously targeted.
State authorities and the police have yet to release a statement regarding the abduction, with no immediate response or information available at the time of writing.
A survivor spoke to the BBC Hausa Service in an interview monitored on Wednesday, recounting how the affected communities were in turmoil, with residents fleeing out of fear of further attacks.
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“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.”
