Gunmen abduct 60 in northern Nigeria, kill villagers in overnight raid

6/8/2025 18:29

Gunmen abducted at least 45

women and children in an overnight raid on five villages in

northwest Nigeria, witnesses said, in the second mass kidnapping

in the area within days.



The attackers returned to Sabongarin Damri on Monday and

raided nearby villages including Sade, Tungar Tsalle, Tungar

Sodangi and Tungar Musa Dogo, in an assault that lasted until

dawn, Shehu Musa, the traditional head of Damri, told Reuters by

phone late on Tuesday.



The incident followed a separate mass abduction in

Sabongarin Damri, in Zamfara state, on Saturday in which 70

people were taken.



"The attackers invaded the communities and kidnapped no

fewer than 45 people from the five neighbouring villages, which

are less than half a kilometre apart," Musa said.



Armed groups, often referred to locally as "bandits", have

killed hundreds and abducted thousands across Nigeria's

northwest in recent years. They typically hold captives for

extended periods, demanding ransoms for their release.



Security forces engaged the assailants during Monday's

attack, killing three, but were unable to stop the bandits from

fleeing with hostages and rustling cattle. Civilian casualties

were reported, though the number of fatalities was unconfirmed.



"They mostly kidnapped women and children after killing some

of our people," said Hassan Dauda, a resident of Tungar Tsalle.

"As I'm speaking to you now, some residents have started fleeing

their community due to fear."



Separately, Boko Haram militias attacked the remote Kennari

village, in the Damasak area of the northeastern Borno state, on

Monday, abducting at least 15 people and killing one person,

according to a security report seen by Reuters.



Modu Bukar, a resident, said the assailants killed the

village head and demanded a 30 million naira ($19,650) ransom

for the release of the captives.