…as ‘peace deal’ falters
Armed bandits have reportedly abducted more than 50 people in separate attacks in Zamfara state.
About 40 worshippers were kidnapped during dawn prayers on Monday at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village of Tsafe LGA.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the gunmen arrived the mosque around 5:30 am, surrounding the building and whisking away the worshippers at gunpoint.
The abductors reportedly moved the captives into the forests near the Gohori axis in Tsafe.
The attack has plunged the rural community into confusion and despair, coming barely a day after reports of a “peace deal” involving local leaders and armed groups in Katsina and neighbouring states.
A source told Makama that the incident highlights the lack of unified command among bandits, noting that while negotiations may occur in some areas, attacks continue unabated in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna.
In a separate incident on Sunday, bandits reportedly abducted 12 people from Godai village in Bukkuyum LGA.
The gunmen reportedly shot sporadically, forcing residents to flee before taking the victims toward Gyado forest.
The Zamfara police said the command received a distress call from a divisional police officer in Bukkuyum and said security personnel were immediately deployed to the area.
