Gunmen abducted at least 50 people, including women and children, in northwestern Nigeria's Zamfara state over the weekend, residents and police confirmed on Tuesday. The latest mass kidnapping highlights the ongoing insecurity in the region, where armed groups operate with little resistance.

The raid occurred in Maradun, lasting over two hours, according to community leader Halliru Attahiru, whose niece was among those taken. “Several women and small children were kidnapped,” Attahiru said, adding that authorities have yet to respond. Tasiu Hamisu, another resident, reported that gunmen targeted a house where 20 individuals were abducted, operating without any security interference.

Zamfara police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar confirmed the incident but did not provide further details. No group has claimed responsibility, but locals suspect the involvement of bandit groups known for mass kidnappings and ransom demands. These groups, often former herders in conflict with settled communities, have become a persistent threat in the conflict-prone northern region.

Kidnappings for ransom have surged in northwestern Nigeria, with armed groups exploiting weak security to target villages and travelers. Most victims are released after paying hefty ransoms. Earlier this year, more than 130 schoolchildren were freed after being held captive for over two weeks in neighboring Kaduna state.

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The military has pledged to intensify efforts to combat insecurity in northern Nigeria, with Army Chief Olufemi Oluyede emphasizing renewed operations to address the crisis. However, the persistence of abductions, including the infamous 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping, underscores the scale of the challenge. Nearly 100 of the 276 girls abducted from Chibok remain in captivity a decade later.

Since then, over 1,500 students have been kidnapped, with armed groups using ransoms to fund other crimes and extend their influence in Nigeria's resource-rich but poorly secured northern regions.

Source: With inputs from agencies