At least 26 people have been abducted by armed bandits in coordinated attacks on two communities in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
State and local authorities confirmed that the attacks occurred over the weekend, raising fresh security concerns in the North-West region.
The Chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government, Yahaya Yari Abubakar, said on Monday that the gunmen carried out two separate assaults.
The first attack took place in Matuna village, where three people were abducted and one resident killed.
The attackers later struck Tashar Kuturu village, abducting 23 individuals and injuring another resident, who was shot in the hand and leg. The victim has been taken to a hospital in Jangebe for treatment.
Residents said the Tashar Kuturu attack occurred late at night, with gunmen firing sporadically to instil fear. The assailants reportedly operated for about two hours without resistance.
Abubakar explained that the bandits arrived on motorcycles, heavily armed, and deployed a tripod-mounted gun in the middle of the road, firing repeatedly to intimidate residents and enforce compliance.
“They abducted men, women, and children—some on foot, others on motorcycles,” he added.
Talata Mafara has long been a hotspot for banditry. In 2021, it gained global attention after nearly 300 female students were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe.
The latest incidents come amid a surge in attacks across the North-West. Just last week, about 170 worshippers were abducted in Kajuru, Kaduna State, with over 160 still unaccounted for.
Recent months have also seen similar attacks in Kebbi and Niger States, including school invasions leading to the abduction of students and teachers.
Despite repeated assurances by security agencies, residents say the persistent attacks have crippled farming and economic activities, forcing many villagers to flee their homes.