By Samuel Ogunsona and Waheed Suleiman
Some 80 people have been kidnapped in the Northern Nigeria state of Zamfara
This is coming few weeks before the transfer of power from President Mohammadu Buhari to the President Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29
Our correspondents in Gusau who monitored the development said there were children and women among the victims
“Armed men stormed the village on bicycles. They were all armed. They seize the no fewer than 80 people in the raid” Mallam Musa Abdullahi told Irohinoodua on early morning on Saturday.
Zamfara has been the hotbed of violent crime which only subsided shortly before the national elections that ended in March.
The attack took place in Wanzamai village in Tsafe local government area in Zamfara, witnesses said
A middle aged man whose wife was kidnapped told Irohinoodua that kidnapping had reduced in Zamfara until recently
“We have had a break until now. The armed gangs are always in the bush. We know. We had a break but now they are back” he said as he fought back tears.
The violence is also no unconnected with the rivalry between Fulani and Hausa two ethnic groups that had been seen as blood bound until few years ago when clashes between then became visible to the shock of many.
The Zamfara police spokesperson Mohammed Shehu has confirmed the kidnapping.
Sources claim the police are working with the military and local Vigilante Group to locate the kidnappers and rescue the victims.