Armed bandits have abducted more than 50 people in two separate incidents in Zamfara State.
At least 40 worshippers were seized during dawn prayers on Monday at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the gunmen stormed the mosque at about 5:30 a.m., surrounded the building and forced worshippers out at gunpoint. The captives were reportedly marched into the forests near the Gohori axis in Tsafe.
The attack has thrown the community into confusion and despair, coming barely a day after reports of a “peace deal” involving local leaders and armed groups in Katsina and neighbouring states.
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A source told Makama that the incident underlined the absence of a unified command among armed groups, noting that while negotiations may be underway in some areas, attacks continue unabated in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna.
In a separate incident on Sunday, bandits kidnapped 12 residents of Godai village in Bukkuyum LGA. The gunmen were said to have fired shots indiscriminately, forcing villagers to flee before taking the captives towards Gyado forest.
The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed it had received a distress call from the divisional police officer in Bukkuyum, adding that security personnel were immediately deployed to the area.
