Gunmen kidnap at least 50 in Nigeria’s Zamfara state, residents and police say

MAIDUGURI: A pack of gunmen kidnapped much than 50 women and children successful a raid connected Kakin Dawa colony successful Nigeria’s northwest Zamfara state, constabulary and residents said.

Kidnapping for ransom by gunmen, known by locals arsenic bandits, is rife successful northwest Nigeria owed to precocious levels of poverty, unemployment and the proliferation of amerciable firearms.

Zamfara constabulary said the incidental took spot connected Sunday and that further information forces were being deployed to the area.

Residents said dozens of assailants riding connected motorcycles arrived successful the colony astatine astir 1230 GMT, equipped with battle rifles, and went from location to location kidnapping residents.

“Later we recovered retired that they kidnapped much than 50 women, including joined women and girls,“ said Hassan Ya’u, who escaped the onslaught but whose younger sister was taken.

“We are appealing to the national and Zamfara authorities governments to nonstop much soldiers and information unit to combat those bandits,“ helium said.

There is wide insecurity successful northwest Nigeria, portion a 15-year Islamist insurgency has plagued the northeast of the state and pack and separatist unit affects the southeast.

“We are presently waiting to perceive the kidnappers’ demands for the merchandise of the abducted individuals,“ said Abdulkadir Sadia, different nonmigratory of the village. “The full assemblage is successful distress.”