Gunmen suspected to be bandits, have reportedly abducted at least 73 residents in a midnight attack on Buzugu and Rayau villages in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
The incident, which occurred around 2:45 a.m. on October 18, has further fueled concerns about escalating insecurity in the region.
According to the counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the villages in large numbers and took the victims to an unknown location.
Efforts are reportedly underway to rescue the abductees and restore calm to the affected communities, with security forces collaborating closely with local vigilante groups.
Zamfara State has been plagued by recurring bandit attacks, with similar incidents reported in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, 30 residents were kidnapped in Zamfarawa village, Zugu district, also within Bukkuyum LGA. In another attack less than two weeks prior, suspected gunmen abducted two councillors and an imam in the Tsauni community, Gusau LGA, taking them from their homes after prayers.
In September, the Yandoto community in Tsafe LGA witnessed a tragic assault where armed bandits killed five worshippers during prayers in a mosque and abducted several others.
These ongoing attacks underscore the persistent insecurity in Zamfara State, as authorities continue to face challenges in curbing the activities of armed groups.
