At least 73 people have reportedly been abducted following a midnight attack on Buzugu and Rayau villages in Bukkuyum Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, according to a report by News360 Nigeria.
Counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama stated that the incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. on October 18, when heavily armed bandits invaded the two villages, firing sporadically before abducting dozens of residents and transporting them to an unknown location.
Sources said security forces have launched a joint rescue operation in collaboration with local vigilante groups to free the victims and restore calm in the affected communities.
Zamfara has remained one of the states worst affected by banditry in recent months, with multiple villages suffering recurring attacks.
Earlier in October, about 30 residents were kidnapped when gunmen stormed Zamfarawa village in the Zugu district of the same Bukkuyum LGA. Less than two weeks before that, two councillors and a local imam were abducted in Tsauni community, Gusau LGA, after armed men broke into their homes shortly after evening prayers.
In September, armed assailants also killed at least five worshippers during prayers at a mosque in Yandoto, Tsafe LGA, and abducted several others.
Security agencies continue to face mounting pressure to curb the surge in abductions and restore stability across Zamfara and Nigeria’s wider North-West region.
