[p]According to a report by BBC Hausa, a group of bandits [/b]abducted over 80 children in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday morning. The children, who were between the ages of 12 and 17, were taken while they were in the bush in the early hours of the day. The assailants reportedly rounded up the children and took them away into the forest.
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[p]The parents of the victims have expressed their anguish and called on the government to take immediate action to rescue their children. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that bandits have carried out such heinous crimes in Zamfara State. Despite several interventions by the government to tackle criminal activity, bandits have continued their nefarious activities in the region, causing untold suffering and loss of lives and property. In the past, hundreds of school children have been kidnapped [/b]by these criminals, and some were later released upon payment of ransom.
[/p][p]It is unclear at this time what the motive of the kidnappers is or if they will make any demands for ransom. As of the time of the BBC report, the abductors had not contacted the parents of the children. The incident has once again highlighted the security challenges facing Nigeria and the urgent need for the government to take decisive action to protect its citizens and bring an end to the activities of criminal elements in the country.
