By Abdullahi Abdulrahaman,The Nation
Copyright thenationonlineng
No fewer than 40 worshippers in Tuber village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State were reportedly abducted on Monday.
They were said to have been abducted during morning prayer in a mosque in the village.
A security expert Zaragoza Makama confirmed the incident. He said: “The attack occurred around 5:30 am when the Bandits were on their way back from Katsina peace dialogue. They whisked away the worshippers at gunpoint.”
Locals confided the abductors later moved the victims deep into the forests around the Gohori axis of Tsafe.
The incident has thrown the rural community into fear.
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Community members said the attack highlight the fragility of ongoing peace efforts as heavily armed groups continue to operate freely despite dialogue initiatives.
“The bandits have no unified command or control. You can negotiate with some groups in Katsina, while others continue to carry out attacks in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna,” a local source said
When contacted, member representing Tsafe West State Constituency Hon. Amiru Ahmed Keta confirmed the abduction and as well the killing of a District Head and one Alhaji in two villages.
Keta said the marauders attacked Gidan Turbe village under Yandoton Daji ward of Tsafe Local government and abducted ten worshippers but two of them managed to escape.
“It is true early morning today, the bandits attacked the villagers but they didn’t kill anybody in Turbe village Despite that, they abducted ten people and confiscated multiple cell phones but two of the abductees escaped,” Keta said.
Speaking on the figure of the kidnapped victims, the lawmaker said: “Based on my enquiry, this is only what I gathered and that is only what comes to my notice and I can only give a testimony of what comes to my knowledge, even if the figure is more than that, I don’t know anything about it.”
He also confirmed another attack in Dogon Daji village under Keta/Kizara ward where the bandits killed the village head.
He said they also attacked Bawa ganga village and killed one Alhaji.
Keta further lamented the current horrible situation of Kucheri to Wanke road and how bandits turned it to their market.
“Until recently, the bandits were re blocking this road that connects Wanke to Kucheri daily, more especially, Keta to Danjibga and Keta to Kwaren ganuwa villages.
“They turned this road as their market, they almost slept there all the time. Even today people of my town Keta were denied access to Gusau and other cities to source for their means of livelihood,” he agonised.
The Zamfara Police command was yet to issue an official statement on the attacks.
When The Nation contacted Zamfara police spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, he refused to pick calls.
