Zamfara, Nigeria – August 6, 2025: In yet another harrowing episode of violence in northwest Nigeria, armed assailants abducted at least 45 women and children during a coordinated overnight raid on five villages in Zamfara State, according to local officials and eyewitness accounts. This latest incident marks the second mass abduction in the region in just a matter of days.
The attack, which began late Monday and continued into the early hours of Tuesday, targeted the villages of Sade, Tungar Tsalle, Tungar Sodangi, Tungar Musa Dogo, and Sabongarin Damri — communities situated within close proximity of one another. Speaking to Reuters, Shehu Musa, the traditional head of Damri, confirmed the number of people kidnapped and described the assault as “relentless.”
“The attackers stormed the villages one after another, seizing at least 45 people, mostly women and children,” Musa stated. “These villages are less than 500 metres apart, making it easy for the gunmen to move quickly between them.”
This latest violence comes just days after another mass abduction in Sabongarin Damri, where 70 residents were reportedly taken on Saturday. Monday’s attack is believed to have been carried out by the same group.
Local security forces engaged the gunmen during the assault and reportedly killed three of the attackers. However, they were unable to prevent the militants from fleeing with hostages and looted cattle. The number of civilian casualties remains unconfirmed, though residents have reported fatalities.
“They mostly kidnapped women and children after killing some of our people,” said Hassan Dauda, a resident of Tungar Tsalle. “Many families have now fled in fear for their lives.”
Armed groups, often referred to in local parlance as “bandits,” have waged a campaign of terror across Nigeria’s northwest in recent years, perpetrating mass kidnappings, extortion, and murder. Ransom demands for kidnapped victims are commonplace, often prolonging their captivity for weeks or months.
In a separate but similarly devastating incident in northeast Nigeria, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked Kennari village in the Damasak area of Borno State on Monday. According to a security report reviewed by Reuters, at least 15 individuals were abducted and one killed during the raid.
A local resident, Modu Bukar, confirmed that the village head was among those killed. The attackers are said to have demanded a ransom of 30 million naira (approximately $19,650 USD) for the release of the captives.
These latest assaults underscore the worsening security crisis gripping Nigeria, as both bandit groups and Islamist militants continue to operate with near impunity across large swaths of the country, stretching the capabilities of the nation's security apparatus and heightening fears among vulnerable rural populations.
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