LAGOS: Nigeria’s security forces have launched a large-scale manhunt after armed bandits abducted scores of residents from villages in the country’s northwest Zamfara State, in what local officials described as one of the region’s most significant recent attacks.
Gunmen raided the villages of Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji in the Bukkuyum area on Thursday, opening fire on homes and vehicles before sweeping through the communities and forcing residents to flee.
Umar Abubakar Faru, chairman of the Bukkuyum local council, said more than 150 people mostly women and children were abducted and taken toward nearby forest areas used by armed groups as operational hideouts.
Police authorities confirmed the attack but said the number of abducted residents was still being verified.
In a statement, security officials said a joint deployment of police, military, and other security agencies had been mobilised and were actively pursuing the attackers. Some residents who escaped into surrounding areas were transported to hospitals for treatment, while search-and-rescue operations continued.
Northwest Nigeria has faced years of escalating violence linked to heavily armed criminal groups commonly referred to as bandits. These groups frequently carry out mass kidnappings for ransom, village raids, and attacks on highways, operating from forest strongholds across the region.
The latest abductions highlight continuing security challenges facing authorities as communities across Zamfara and neighbouring states remain vulnerable to recurring attacks despite ongoing military operations.
-Isaac Anyaogu
