Not less than 100 people, including women and children were abducted when gunmen raided four villages in Nigeria’s northeastern Zamfara state on Sunday, the information commissioner and residents said on Monday.
Among communities raided include Kanwa village in Zumi local government area where the kidnapped more than 40 people. This was confirmed by the state commissioner for information.
Another 37, mostly women and children were taken in Kwabre community in the same local government area, the resident added, declining to be named for security reasons.
“Right now Kanwa village is deserted, the bandits divided themselves into two groups and attacked the community. They kidnapped children aged between 14 to 16 years and women,” a Kanwa village resident said.
In Yankaba and Gidan Goga communities of Maradun Local government area, at least 38 people were kidnapped while working on their farms, residents said.
Information commissioner Dosara accused the gunmen of using abductees as human shields against air raids from the military.