Zamfara communities face bandit attack, resulting in the abduction of over 100 residents

Around 100 people were kidnapped by armed bandits on Friday in Zamfara State’s Maru Local Government Area, the majority of them were women and children.

According to information obtained by Channels Television, the bandits raided four villages inside the Maru Local Government Area: Mutumji, Sabongari Mahuta, Kwanar Dutsi, and Unguwar Kawo. These settlements were all under levies that the people were required to pay.

Our correspondent was informed by Mutumji villagers that the bandits broke into the neighbourhood after prayers at 8 p.m. and began firing intermittently, causing the residents to flee for their lives.

Locals claimed that Damina, the area’s chieftain of bandits, had imposed a N110 million naira “harvesting levy” on these communities and given them two weeks’ notice to comply and pay.

It was discovered that Mutumji was assessed a N50 million charge, Kwanar Dutsi was assessed a N30 million levy, Sabongari Mahuta was assessed a N20 million assessment, and Unguwar Kawo was assessed a N10 million levy.

According to a different local source, after the terrorist attack on Friday night, the villages began collecting money.

There were multiple unsuccessful attempts to elicit responses from the state’s police force and government.

Barely a week has passed since 15 people were kidnapped in the same local government’s Ruwandoruwa neighbourhood.