Gunmen abducted at least 46 people, including women and children, during a raid on Gana town in Zamfara State, Nigeria, late on Sunday, residents and a traditional leader reported. The attackers, riding motorcycles, stormed the town at about 10 p.m., firing shots and setting homes and businesses ablaze. While government security forces intervened to prevent further destruction, no lives were lost, according to Alhaji Garba Haure, a traditional leader.
Details include:
- 46 individuals are confirmed abducted, though locals fear the number could be higher.
- Six people escaped as the kidnappers transported captives early Monday.
- Houses and silos containing food were burned during the raid.
Zamfara, like much of northwest Nigeria, is frequently targeted by armed groups (locally called “bandits”) engaging in mass kidnappings and attacks, often for ransom. In a similar attack in December, captives were freed after a ransom was paid. Efforts to reach police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar for comment were unsuccessful.
The incident reflects the ongoing security challenges in the region, despite government and military efforts to curb such violence.
