Armed Men Abduct Dozens in Zamfara State, Nigeria In a harrowing attack, armed men abducted over 50 women and children from Kafin Dawa, a village in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, on Sunday. Witnesses described the attackers as rifle-wielding men who stormed homes, taking captives while gunfire echoed through the community.
Hassan Ya’u, a resident who escaped, confirmed that his younger sister was among those abducted. “They forcibly kidnapped over 50 women, encompassing both married women and girls,” he declared.
The Nigeria-based Daily Trust reported the number of abductees at 43, though local accounts suggest the toll could be higher. Authorities have since bolstered security forces in the region to search for the victims.
Rise in Banditry and Kidnappings
Kidnappings for ransom have plagued Northwest Nigeria, a practice fueled by widespread poverty, unemployment, and the availability of illegal weapons. Armed groups, often referred to as “bandits,” have targeted vulnerable communities, including schools, in a series of high-profile abductions.
In March 2023, over 130 students were kidnapped in Kuriga, northwest Nigeria, with the captors demanding ransom for their release.
Such incidents echo the infamous 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok, an attack that brought global attention to the crisis. Many of those girls remain unaccounted for.
The rise in abductions underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address insecurity, economic hardships, and the proliferation of arms in the region.
