Residents and a local traditional ruler reported on Tuesday that gunmen kidnapped at least 46 persons, including women and children, during an assault on Gana town in northwest Zamfara state, Nigeria.
At around 2200 GMT on Sunday, dozens of gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on the neighbourhood, setting fire to multiple homes and businesses, according to locals. The attack comes after a similar mass kidnapping in the state last month.
Zamfara police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar was not available for comment when he was contacted. Attempts to reach him via text message and phone call failed.
Armed gangs, referred to as bandits in the region, have been a persistent problem in northwest Nigeria. They frequently terrorise communities, leaving a path of murder and abduction victims, including residents, farmers, students, and drivers, who are frequently kept hostage.
According to Gana traditional chief Alhaji Garba Haure, the attackers were unable to burn down the entire town because of the government security forces’ intervention. He said there were no fatalities but residents were kidnapped.
“We have 46 men, women and children that have been kidnapped altogether, and still counting,” Haure said.
Bala Harauma, a resident, told Reuters the actual count of abducted individuals could be higher. Six people managed to escape while the armed gang moved the captives in the early hours of Monday, Harauma added.
Another resident, Yusuf Mohammed, reported that the bandits set ablaze dozens of houses and silos containing foodstuffs.
The captives taken in the December attack were freed after a ransom was paid, residents said.
