At least 46 people, including women and children, were abducted during a violent attack on Gana town in Zamfara state, northwest Nigeria. The assault, which took place late on Sunday night, has highlighted the region’s growing insecurity.
According to local residents and a traditional leader, a group of gunmen on motorbikes stormed the town around 10:00 PM GMT, indiscriminately firing into the community. The attackers also set fire to several homes and businesses, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
This incident follows a similar mass kidnapping in the state last month, with criminal gangs increasingly targeting vulnerable communities for ransom. The northwest of Nigeria has become notorious for such abductions, with armed groups regularly targeting villages, highways, and schools.
Zamfara state has emerged as a hotspot for these gangs, many of whom retreat into forests after carrying out attacks, where they have established hideouts. Although the Nigerian military has launched airstrikes against these camps, the frequency of abductions and attacks shows no sign of abating.
The region remains in a state of high tension, with many residents fearing further violence as armed groups continue to exploit the area’s fragile security situation.