Zamfara: Over 40 residents kidnapped by bandits in Maru communities.

Bandits operating in Zamfara State have abducted more than 40 residents from communities in the Maru Local Government Area in a series of attacks over the past two weeks.

According to a resident of Maru town, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi, the bandits have been conducting raids on the local government headquarters and surrounding areas, targeting residents in their homes. He mentioned that in a recent attack, seven people were kidnapped during a house-to-house search that started from the Emir’s palace area.

Abdullahi highlighted the role of informants collaborating with the bandits, leading to the frequent attacks and abductions in Maru communities. He expressed concern over the rising number of kidnapped victims, noting that over 40 individuals are currently held captive in bandit camps due to recent attacks.

The bandits are said to be operating from camps located behind Bakalori Dam (Bayan Ruwa) in Maradun Local Government Area, leading to heightened insecurity in the region. Residents are urging authorities to take immediate action to dislodge the bandits from the area and restore peace.

Another resident, Usman Abubakar, described Maru Local Government Area as a hub of banditry, with the bandits inflicting fear and terror on the community. He noted the expansion of bandit activities from Dansadau to various parts of the state, emphasizing the need for urgent intervention by the government and security forces.

Recently, bandits in Maru town killed multiple police officers, including a Divisional Police Officer, underscoring the severity of the security situation in the area.

Efforts to obtain a response from the State Police Command regarding the recent abductions and attacks were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.