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Gunmen have reportedly killed two residents and abducted at least 100, in Gamdum Mallam and Ruwan Rana villages of Bukkuyum LGA, in Zamfara state.
The attacks began on Saturday, August 23.
The assailants were said to have stormed the villages on motorbikes while shooting sporadically.
Muhammadu Mai Anguwa, village head of Gamdum Mallam, told Reuters that the bandits “killed and kidnapped many women and children” during the attack.
Anguwa said the gunmen took the kidnap victims towards Makakari forest.
Huzaifa Isa, a resident of Gamdum Mallam, told the news agency that the attackers split into two groups, with one camp carrying out the abduction as the other mounted a roadblock.
“One group was kidnapping people and livestock, while the other set up a roadblock at Adafka’s main entrance, shooting at anyone who tried to pass,” he said.
“We were being treated like slaves in our own land, as if there is no government.”
Hamisu Faru, lawmaker representing Bukkuyum south constituency in the Zamfara house of assembly, said over 100 people have been abducted in the communities since last weekend.
“At least 100 people have been abducted since Saturday morning,” Faru said.
“The bandits attacked Nasarawa Burkullum under heavy rain, crossed the river into nearby villages, and abducted 46 more people in Ruwan Rana village.”
There has been an uptick in gunmen attacks on Zamfara communities lately.
In early August, gunmen raided several communities in Kauran Namoda LGA, killing 24 people, injuring 16, and abducting 144.
In July, bandits reportedly killed 33 kidnap victims in Banga town after collecting a ransom of N50 million.
