At least 73 persons have reportedly been abducted following an attack on Buzugu and Rayau villages in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the incident occurred at about 2:45 am on October 18.
The report stated that “the armed bandits in large numbers, wielding sophisticated weapons, invaded the two villages and whisked away the residents to an unknown destination.”
Sources said efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of all abducted persons and to restore normalcy in the affected communities.
They added that security operations were being intensified in collaboration with local vigilante groups.
Zamfara communities have continued to suffer repeated bandit attacks.
Earlier this month, 30 residents were abducted when bandits invaded Zamfarawa village in the Zugu district, also in Bukkuyum LGA.
Less than two weeks earlier, suspected gunmen abducted two councillors and an imam in the Tsauni community under Gusau LGA.
“The councillors, representing Gidan Gona and Tsibiri wards in Maradun LGA, alongside the community imam, were kidnapped in front of their houses after prayers,” a source said.
In September, armed bandits killed at least five worshippers in a mosque and abducted several others in the Yandoto community, Tsafe LGA.