Bandits have abducted over 100 individuals, primarily women and children, in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday.
According to The PUNCH, this incident occurred shortly after 15 individuals were kidnapped in the Ruwandoruwa community in the same area just a week prior.
Reliable sources indicated that the four villages targeted were Mutumji, Sabongari Mahuta, Kwanar Dutsi, and Unguwar Kawo within the Maru LGA.
The abduction allegedly resulted from the communities’ failure to meet imposed levies.
According to a source from Mutumji, the bandits attacked around 9 pm following prayers, initiating chaos by indiscriminately firing shots and compelling residents to seek refuge in nearby bushes.
According to a resident named Bala Usman speaking to The PUNCH over the phone, the bandits’ leader operating in the area had previously imposed a total of N110 million naira in levies for harvesting on the four communities.
These communities were given a two-week ultimatum to make the payments.
Usman revealed further details, stating that Mutumji faced a N50 million levy, Kwanar Dutsi was levied N30 million, Sabongari Mahuta had a N20 million demand, and Unguwar Kawo was imposed a N10 million levy.
Another source from the area mentioned that the communities had begun gathering the required money.
However, the terrorists, losing patience, invaded the community on Friday evening.
Efforts to obtain responses from state government officials and the police authorities were unsuccessful, as calls made to the Police Public Relations Officer remained unanswered.
