Nigeria: Gunmen kidnap 80, including children, in northwest Nigeria

BAUCHI (NIGERIA): Gunmen kidnapped at the least 80 individuals, principally girls and youngsters, in Nigeria‘s Zamfara state, a hotspot for kidnappings for ransom by armed gangs focusing on distant villages, residents stated on Saturday.
Gangs of armed males have attacked tons of of native communities throughout northwestern Nigeria lately, whereas Islamist militants proceed to stage assaults within the northeast.
The newest kidnapping happened on Friday in Wanzamai village in Tsafe native authorities space in Zamfara, three residents stated. Zamfara is without doubt one of the states most affected by kidnappings.
Musa Usman, whose 14-year-old son Ibrahim was amongst these kidnapped, stated kids and girls from the village have been clearing land for farming and accumulating firewood once they have been taken by gunmen and marched into a close-by forest.
“The kids from totally different households went to gather firewood and few of them have been going to farms in quest of guide jobs once they have been kidnapped,” Usman advised Reuters by cellphone.
Zamfara police spokesperson Mohammed Shehu confirmed the incident in a press release however didn’t say how many individuals have been kidnapped. The police have been working with the army and group safety guards to rescue the victims, he stated.
Haruna Noma, one other dad or mum, stated a few of these taken have been from two close by villages of Kucheri and Danwuri who had gone to Wanzamai to clear land to farm.
The gunmen had not but made ransom calls for, the residents stated.
Amina Tsafe stated her daughter was additionally kidnapped and that many of the kids taken have been aged between 12 and 17 years.
Kidnappers in Nigeria usually hold their victims for months if a ransom just isn’t paid and likewise demand villagers pay safety charges to be allowed to farm and harvest their crops.
Nigeria’s army has been bombing bush camps utilized by armed gangs, however the assaults have continued.