Over 60 Nigerians kidnapped, many houses set ablaze as bandits return to Zamfara

Bandits have abducted more than sixty persons in a fresh attack on Zamfara State.

The attack came barely a week after bandits attacked a school in the state and kidnapped some 300 schoolgirls.

Houses and farm produce were set ablaze during the attack on Ruwan Tofa village, Maru local government area, TVC News tweeted on Thursday.

“Suspected bandits again abduct more than sixty persons, set ablaze houses and farm produce in Ruwan Tofa village, Maru ocal government area of Zamfara State,” @tvcnewsng tweeted.

In December, hundreds of schoolboys were abducted in Katsina by bandits, drawing nationwide uproar.

In February, bandits breached Government Secondary School (GSS) in Kagara, Niger seizing about 29 students and school administrators.

National security sources, according to Peoples Gazette, had said that the federal government paid $2.099 million (N800 million) to secure the students’ release.

Barely 10 days after the students’ abduction, bandits killed four persons abducting many residents.

President Muhammadu Buhari has, according to his spokesperson Garba Shehu, ordered security agencies to enter the forests in troubled states and shoot anyone found with AK-47 rifles and other lethal weapons.

Buhari earlier declared a no-fly zone over Zamfara to stop bandits from receiving weapons and food via helicopters and other aircraft. The move, the government said, would also curb the illegal mining and theft of gold in the state.