Terrorists in Zamfara State kidnapped at least 80 youths who had gone to the bush to collect firewood.
At approximately 8 am on Friday, the incident occurred in Wanzamai village, causing fear and confusion throughout the entire village, as almost every household was affected. Despite attempts to contact the police and government officials regarding the incident, no successful communication was made.
During an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, which was monitored by our correspondent, parents whose children were among those kidnapped revealed that the terrorists abducted both male and female children who had gone to the bush to collect firewood.
A parent stated, “The kidnapping incident affected all members of our community. Either your son, daughter, nephew, or niece was among the captives. In my case, they took my son and our motorbike.”
A woman in Wanzamai village expressed her worry for her 15-year-old daughter who was among those kidnapped, saying “We are worried because we don’t know the condition of our children in captivity.”
As of the time of this report, the terrorists had not demanded any ransom. Journalists were informed that there was an attack on Wanzamai village at the beginning of Ramadan, during which the terrorists only stole and rustled animals.
Zamfara State, situated in the rural Northwest region of Nigeria, has been a hotspot for criminal activities, especially kidnappings, carried out by gangs. These gangs act like a parallel government, challenging the state and local authorities, and have the power to unleash death and other hardships on the rural populace.
Zamfara State is rich in gold and other valuable minerals, making it an attractive location for both local and foreign miners. This led to the occupation of many mining sites by non-state actors, and the continued kidnapping for ransom by terrorists.
Despite military efforts to bomb criminal enclaves, the terrorists continued to change locations and pretend to be ready for peace talks, only to renege and return to their criminal activities.