News

Bandits Block Zamfara Highway and Kidnap Passengers from Two Buses

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 2nd, 2024.

Bandits Block Zamfara Highway and Kidnap Passengers from Two Buses

Bandits

On Saturday evening, gunmen suspected to be bandits seized control of a highway in Zamfara State, abducting passengers from two buses. According to a witness, the assailants halted the vehicles and took all the occupants.

A social media user, DanKatsina50, reported, “Bandits have blocked the Damri to Bakura road in Zamfara, taking everyone from two fully loaded buses. It’s shocking to see terrorists block roads in broad daylight with no apparent fear. The northwest region of Nigeria is now a hotbed of terror.”

Zamfara, located in Nigeria’s northern region, is plagued by bandit groups that frequently raid villages, kill residents, and destroy property. These gangs operate from extensive forest areas that extend into neighboring states such as Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger, and have been involved in numerous mass kidnappings of schoolchildren in recent years.

In 2019, under former governor Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, the state government reached a peace agreement with these bandits. Despite this accord, attacks on communities and abductions have continued unabated.