Dozens abducted in Zamfara as banditry crisis worsens
Story by Susan Mbamah
Bandits have reportedly abducted at least 20 people, mostly young girls and women, in a recent attack in Moriki town, Zamfara State.
According to a resident, Sufyanu Moriki, the victims were captured on Saturday while collecting firewood on the outskirts of the town.
“The abduction actually happened on Saturday, they went out to fetch firewood at the outskirts of the town when they were kidnapped by the armed group,” Moriki told Channels Television, adding that the abductors have not yet contacted anyone for ransom.
The Zamfara Police Command has not yet confirmed the incident. The command’s spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, stated that he had not been informed about the abduction but promised to provide an update once he had more information.
READ ALSO: Zamfara town dares bandits, refuses to pay ₦20m fines despite threat
The incident is part of a broader “banditry” crisis that began as a conflict over land and water rights between herders and farmers. The gangs now operate as organized criminals, frequently preying on rural communities with little to no government presence. This ongoing violence has exacerbated a malnutrition crisis in the northwest, as attacks prevent people from farming.
The situation has been further complicated by climate change and cuts to Western aid. Last month, officials and residents told AFP that bandits in Zamfara killed 33 people they had kidnapped in February, even after receiving a $33,700 ransom. Three babies also died while in captivity.
Since 2011, organised armed gangs have flourished in the impoverished northwest, with cattle rustling and kidnapping becoming major sources of income. These groups also impose taxes on farmers and artisanal miners. Violence has since spread from the northwest to north-central Nigeria.
Although Nigerian troops recently killed at least 95 members of an armed gang in Niger State, the military remains overstretched. Analysts note that while improved cooperation between the army and air force has helped, airstrikes have also resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths over the years.
READ ALSO: Zamfara governor disowns kidnap victims claiming to be his siblings (Video)
Primarily motivated by money, the bandits have also increased their cooperation with Nigeria’s jihadist groups. The recent rise of the Lakurawa jihadist group in the northwest has further intensified regional violence. In response, affected state governments have recruited anti-jihadist militias, who have been fighting militants in the northeast, to help counter the bandits.
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