Suspected armed bandits have abducted at least 100 people, mostly children and women, from farmlands in Wanzamai community on the border of Zamfara and Katsina states, Daily Trust Saturday has gathered.
Located about 60 kilometres along Gusau-Funtua highway and on ZamfaraKatsina border, Wanzamai community had suffered series of bandits’ incursions in the past.
A resident of Wanzamai village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State identified as Sani Wanzamai, said about 80 children from Wanzamai village were kidnapped and more than 20 other persons from Kucheri village in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state and Yankara community in neighbouring Katsina State were also abducted.
“While the children went into the bush to fetch firewood, the other adults were kidnapped on farmlands when they went for land clearing in preparation for this year’s cropping season. There are also women among the victims.
“The armed men suddenly appeared and then herded the victims into the forest. The armed criminals have not contacted any family yet. Some families have tried reaching out to the adults among the victims but can’t get any one,” he said.
Another resident told the Hausa Service of the BBC that, “We were sitting between 8 o’clock in the morning when we heard that some of our youths who went to fetch firewood in the bush and those who have gone to clear their farmlands have been abducted by bandits.”
According to him, Most of them are youths between teenage years and those who are in their twenties. There is one old man who is in his fifties. And there are others too. But the majority are young men and women.”
Another resident, who also didn’t give his name for security reasons, said his son was among those abducted.
“I can’t say how many of them have been abducted but my son was taken. He went with my motorcycle and they’ve taken him with the motorcycle. I don’t know the actual number but they’re many including children and young people,” he said.
A woman also told the BBC Hausa that her daughter was among those abducted.
“My daughter is 15 years old and she was among those who went to fetch firewood for us,” she said.
The spokesman of the state police command, CSP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report. His phone lines were switched off.
Daily Trust.
