In a tragic incident, bandits raided Madabanciya village in Bungudu local government area of Zamfara State on Sunday night, abducting a recently married husband and wife.
According to an eyewitness, Ibrahim Sani, the bandits, arriving on foot around 11.45 pm, left their motorcycles outside the village and, armed with sophisticated weapons, fired indiscriminately upon arrival, creating panic among residents.
Sani reported that the bandits, in significant numbers, systematically looted houses, taking animals, food items, and valuables. In the process, they encountered a newly married couple and forcibly took them into the forest.
Expressing concern about the lack of security presence in the village, Sani emphasized the urgent need for authorities to deploy security personnel to the area. He warned that without timely intervention, residents might be compelled to relocate to safer places.
As of the time of reporting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar, was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, the state government has finalized plans to launch its Community Protection Guards next Wednesday. These guards will be deployed to localities to collaborate with security personnel in the ongoing fight against banditry.
Zamfara has been grappling with frequent bandit attacks, leading to loss of lives and the abduction of numerous individuals in recent months. Notably, in December 2023, Zurmi town faced a bandit invasion, resulting in casualties and abductions. Additionally, in November 2023, communities in Maru LGA were abandoned after 110 people were kidnapped by bandits due to non-payment of a notorious bandit kingpin’s monthly levy.
