Gunmen Abduct Over 50 People in Northwest Nigeria

Gunmen Abduct Over 50 People in Northwest Nigeria
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More than 50 people were kidnapped by armed gunmen in Sabon Garin Damri, a village in Nigeria’s Zamfara state, in a concerning display of a new “mass capture” strategy by bandits, The Guardian reported. This shift indicates that the criminal gangs are moving towards larger-scale attacks in the northern part of the state.

According to a report in The Guardian, the “banditry” crisis, which began as a conflict over land and water rights between herders and farmers, has evolved into an organized criminal enterprise. These gangs are now preying on rural communities with limited government presence, where they engage in lucrative activities like cattle rustling and kidnapping.

The violence is contributing to a malnutrition crisis as people are forced to abandon their farms. The situation is further compounded by climate change and aid cuts. While Nigerian security forces have had some success, the military is overstretched. The report also highlights that the bandits are increasing their cooperation with jihadist groups, such as the newly emerged Lakurawa group, which is worsening the security situation in the region.