Gunmen Abduct 23 Women in Zamfara

Armed bandits on motorcycles stormed the outskirts of Moriki town in Zamfara State and kidnapped 23 women who had gone to fetch firewood.

According to reports, the attack happened around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1, in Zurmi Local Government Area.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived suddenly and rounded up the women.

Without hesitation, they dragged them into the nearby forest and disappeared.

None of the captives has returned.

Security sources confirmed the incident and noted that troops under Operation Fansan Yanma launched a rescue operation immediately.

Local vigilantes also joined the mission and have continued combing the forests around Moriki.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility, and no ransom demand has reached the families.

One local vigilante leader said the bandits likely took the victims deeper into the Zurmi forest.

He explained that the terrain makes tracking difficult, especially without aerial support.

He also urged the government to invest in surveillance drones to monitor remote areas.

This kidnapping has triggered fresh tension in Zamfara, where residents already face repeated attacks.

Just days earlier, gunmen killed at least 33 villagers in Banga town, despite receiving a reported ₦50 million ransom.

That massacre drew sharp condemnation from local and international voices.

The UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, called the killings an “unspeakable act of terror.”

She urged Nigerian authorities to act swiftly and protect vulnerable rural communities.

In Moriki, residents now fear venturing out, even for food or firewood.

Community leaders have pleaded with the Zamfara State Government to deploy more troops and increase patrols.

They say the current security presence remains too thin to protect rural dwellers.

Governor Dauda Lawal has received updates on the abduction and directed security agencies to intensify the search.

However, the state government has not released an official statement on the incident.

Until authorities recover the missing women, tension will continue to rise. Locals demand more than promises they want action.

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