Sources have saod that militants kidnapped at least 52 people during an attack on a village and a military base in Zamfara State in north-western Nigeria.
In the rural areas of north-western and central Nigeria, where government institutions are virtually non-functional, a crisis has arisen due to the dominance of armed groups, such as jihadists in the north-east and criminal gangs known as “bandits.” The armed groups have established their own shadow economy: they impose compulsory “tribute” on local farmers, engage in large-scale cattle rustling and carry out regular raids on villages.
Meanwhile, kidnappings have become a major source of income. The latest act of violence saw militants abduct 52 people, including children, during the night between Saturday and Sunday. According to locals, militants on motorbikes stormed into Kasuwar Daji village in the Kaura Namoda local government area, stole rifles and burnt a military patrol vehicle.
One resident stated that “Initially, they abducted more than 100 people,” before releasing some and ultimately retaining 52. Another resident said that “the gunmen went from house to house, abducting many people.”
The army said that troops had repelled an attack on a military base, which resulted in the militants killing a soldier and a police officer and abducting an unspecified number of residents, blaming the attack on “terrorists”.
