Gunmen have abducted at least 100 people in Nigeria’s northwest, according to residents. The armed men on motorcycles targeted villages in Zamfara state, kidnapping residents who had not paid a “tax” imposed by the gunmen. Kidnapping for ransom has become prevalent in northwestern Nigeria, with armed gangs, often referred to as bandits, targeting villages, schools, and travelers.
These groups demand large sums of money in exchange for the release of hostages. In this recent attack, one resident was reported killed. The region is facing security challenges, and locals mentioned that the gunmen, led by someone known as “Damana,” exert control in the absence of adequate security forces. The Nigerian government is grappling with various security issues, including jihadist insurgency, herder-farmer conflicts, separatist insurgency, and militant demands in the Niger Delta. The current President, Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in May, has not yet outlined specific plans to address the prevailing insecurity.