A fresh wave of violence has hit Zamfara State as armed bandits abducted at least 20 women and girls in Moriki town, located in Zurmi Local Government Area.
According to residents, the victims were taken on Saturday while they were out gathering firewood on the outskirts of the community.
“The abduction actually happened on Saturday, they went out to fetch firewood at the outskirts of the town when they were kidnapped by the armed group,” said Sufyanu Moriki, a resident who spoke to Channels Television.
So far, the kidnappers have not reached out to families or community members with any ransom demands.
The Zamfara State Police Command has yet to confirm the incident. When contacted, police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar stated he had not received any official briefing.
“I’m yet to be informed about the incident,” he said, adding that he would follow up and provide updates once more information becomes available.
This latest attack is part of an alarming pattern of violence that has continued to destabilize Zamfara and other parts of northwest Nigeria.
Originally stemming from disputes between herders and farmers over land and water, the conflict has evolved into a full-scale criminal enterprise involving mass kidnappings, extortion, and rural terror.
These attacks have not only displaced thousands but have also worsened food insecurity in the region, as fear and violence force farmers to abandon their lands.
Climate change and reduced international aid have only deepened the crisis.
Last month, bandits in Zamfara reportedly killed 33 of their earlier kidnapping victims, despite collecting a ransom of $33,700.
Three infants held in captivity also died due to poor conditions, according to officials and residents.
The situation in the northwest has been compounded by growing collaboration between criminal gangs and jihadist groups, particularly with the emergence of the Lakurawa jihadist faction in the region.
These alliances have made the violence more deadly and widespread.
Since 2011, as arms trafficking surged across the Sahel, armed groups in northern Nigeria have increasingly turned to cattle rustling, extortion, and abductions for ransom.
Many now impose taxes on farmers and artisanal miners, acting as de facto rulers in areas where state authority is virtually absent.
Two weeks ago, the Nigerian military reported killing at least 95 armed gang members in Niger State during a series of airstrikes and ground operations.
However, the military remains overstretched, and analysts warn that despite improved coordination between army and air force units, airstrikes have often resulted in civilian casualties.
