Back-to-back attacks on worshippers and villagers deepen fear, cast doubt on ongoing peace talks with armed groups
Over 50 people have been abducted in Zamfara State following two separate bandit attacks that occurred within the space of 24 hours, leaving residents gripped with fear and shattering hopes for peace in the troubled region.
The deadlier of the incidents happened on Monday morning in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area, where about 40 worshippers were seized during dawn prayers. According to eyewitnesses, the armed men arrived at the mosque around 5:30 am, cordoned off the area, and forced the worshippers at gunpoint into the nearby forest. Reports suggest that the captives were taken towards the Gohori axis in Tsafe, a notorious hideout for criminal gangs. The attack has left the small rural community traumatized, coming at a time when discussions of peace deals with bandits were said to be underway in some neighboring states.
Just a day earlier, on Sunday, another group of gunmen invaded Godai village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area. The attackers fired sporadically to scare residents, forcing many to flee before they abducted 12 villagers. The victims were then marched into the Gyado forest, believed to be another operational base for bandit groups in Zamfara. The state police command confirmed receiving a distress call from the divisional police officer in Bukkuyum, noting that security operatives were immediately deployed to the area.
The coordinated nature of these abductions has heightened public concern over the capacity of security agencies to protect vulnerable communities. For many residents, daily life has become a gamble between survival and abduction, with kidnappings for ransom now a grim reality across Zamfara and neighboring states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna.
Security analysts say the fresh attacks highlight one of the biggest obstacles to peace negotiations, the absence of a central command structure among the numerous armed groups. While some factions may be open to dialogue, others continue to launch raids, undermining whatever progress is made in talks. The latest kidnappings therefore serve as a reminder that localized agreements have little impact on the broader crisis, with rural communities paying the highest price.
As families of the abducted worshippers and villagers await news of their loved ones, tension continues to rise across Zamfara. Fear now dictates daily routines, and many communities live under the shadow of uncertainty, unsure of when or where the next attack will strike. The cycle of abductions and violence appears unbroken, leaving residents with a growing sense of despair.
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