At least one hundred people were reportedly kidnapped in a recent attack by bandits in Zamfara State.
According to reports, the attackers targeted multiple communities in Wanke, a region near Gusau, the state capital, and led their captives into the wilderness. The victims included women, children, and the elderly, as well as the Chief Imam, who was receiving treatment for a leg injury at the time of the abduction. This is the second time the bandits have targeted the Imam.
At the time of this report, there has been no official response from the state government or the police regarding the incident.
Nonetheless, a survivor has shared their account with the BBC Hausa Service in an interview yesterday.
According to the survivor, the affected communities are currently under siege, leading to a mass migration among the residents in fear of further attacks. The survivor detailed that multiple kidnappings occurred in different areas, with over 50 people abducted near Sabon Layi and another 50 in Dagon Hayi. The survivor also mentioned that they were still trying to account for all the missing individuals as some locals fled to safety, leaving behind their families and homes. “The terrorists were chasing people as if they were chasing animals. It was quite a disturbing scenario, watching how people were being chased,” the survivor stated.
In describing the terrifying scenes, the survivor explained that the bandits used motorbikes to chase down their victims and even targeted women at their homes. Some victims were intercepted while trying to escape, and the attackers herded them into the wilderness, treating them like animals. “They were chasing them on motorbikes, they traced women to their houses and abducted them. Some were even intercepted while running away and were herded like animals to the bush,” the survivor recalled.
The bandits also attacked several other communities including Gira, Ruwa Kusa, Dogon Hayi, and Gidan Kado. In these areas, the attackers stole motorcycles, farm produce, and mobile phones. They also looted local shops, taking provisions and other valuable items. “Officials at Wanke were informed but no action was taken as of now, that we can confirm,” the survivor said, expressing frustration over the lack of response from local authorities. He further emphasized that these kinds of attacks have been ongoing for the past nine years, leaving the communities living in constant fear.
“We are being faced with this calamity and had even migrated to Gusau and other places. There are no animals here anymore,” the survivor lamented. The situation has become so dire that residents live in fear after nightfall. “Once night falls, everyone would be deeply worried as sleeping in the communities would be extremely dangerous,” the survivor concluded, emphasizing the escalating insecurity in the area and the hardships the local population faces daily. The people of Wanke and surrounding regions continue to live under the threat of bandit attacks, with little to no immediate intervention from security forces or local authorities. The distressing account has left many Nigerians questioning the government's ability to protect its citizens from such frequent and devastating attacks.