Nigerian gunmen have abducted at least 60 people in a remote community in northwestern Zamfara state, mostly women celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, residents said Thursday, in the latest wave of kidnappings to hit the state.
Armed groups are widespread in the country’s northwest, where they rob or kidnap people for ransom, and violence is on the rise as underpowered security forces are often unable to stop the attacks.
This has raised concerns about whether the people of the region will be able to vote in a presidential election in February to choose a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is constitutionally barred from running again.
Two residents said gunmen on motorbikes arrived at Magami Tandu community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area on Wednesday night and fired sporadically.
They took mostly women who were observing Mawlid, the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebration held between late September and late November in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim northern states, residents said.
“Every day there are murders or kidnappings that leave us homeless. Please (tell) the government to act and give us justice,” said Abdulkarim Haruna, whose wife was abducted.
Residents said 19 people were killed on Tuesday when gunmen attacked Ryuji community in Zurmi Zamfari Local Government Area, which is next to Kaura Namoda.
Zamfara police spokesperson Mohammed Shehu could not be reached for comment.
