Nigerian security forces have started a large-scale search after armed bandits kidnapped about 150 people in Zamfara state, making it one of the biggest attacks in the area recently.
On Thursday, gunmen attacked the villages of Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji in Bukkuyum.
They fired at vehicles and homes, then took more than 150 people, mostly women and children, into nearby forests, according to local sources. Many residents ran away, leaving the communities empty.
Umar Abubakar Faru, the local council chairman, confirmed how many people were taken.
Police said they are still checking the exact number of victims. Police, military, and other security teams are working together to find the attackers and rescue the victims.
Some people who escaped have been taken to the hospital. Northwest Nigeria has long struggled with bandit violence, defined by mass kidnappings for ransom and repeated village raids.
Armed groups operate from vast forest enclaves, exploiting difficult terrain and limited state presence to sustain their campaigns of terror.
The Zamfara incident illustrates that the region is still not safe. Local communities remain at risk, and there is a clear need for stronger, ongoing efforts to restore safety and stability.
