More Than 100 People Were Abducted By Bandits In Zamfara

Bandits abducted over 100 individuals during an attack in Maru local government, Zamfara, on Friday night. The assailants, led by a figure known as Damina, targeted the town of Mutunji after the Isha’i prayer, engaging in a confrontation with the residents, mostly husbands, according to eyewitnesses.

Damina and his accomplices, armed with motorcycles, encircled the town, compelling people into the forest. The motive was purportedly linked to Damina’s claim that the abducted owed him a 50 million naira tax. As of now, security forces have not issued a statement about the incident in Mutunzi, but distressed local residents conveyed the severity of the situation.

A resident, who managed to escape the bandits, recounted the attack, stating, “The assault occurred after the Isha’i prayer when people were gathered at night. Husbands assembled like a night market, suddenly Damina and his cohorts surrounded us, taking us into the forest.”

Residents revealed that Damina had been a persistent menace, particularly harassing tax collectors. The attack coincided with ongoing efforts to collect funds, with the assailants robbing the populace. “He abducted more than a hundred people, mostly women and young individuals,” said a resident, expressing gratitude for narrowly avoiding capture due to familiarity with the terrain.

Damina reportedly left Mutunji after a one-week ultimatum for a 50 million naira payment. Additionally, neighboring villages, including Kwana (30 million), Sabon Mahuta (20 million), and Unguwar Kawo (10 million), were also targeted, contributing to a total demand of 110 million naira, according to a local resident.

Residents conveyed a sense of helplessness, asserting that the area lacked security presence. “Terrorists control the region; they send us to the forest as agricultural workers, returning to town to consume goods without payment,” lamented locals.