Gunmen kidnap 13 women in Zamfara

Gunmen have kidnapped at least 13 women in a house-to-house raid in Majema community in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state, Daily Trust gathered. The incident, which occurred last Monday night, came barely three days after seven persons were kidnapped at a football viewing centre in Birnin Magaji local government area of the state. […]

Gunmen have kidnapped at least 13 women in a house-to-house raid in Majema community in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state, Daily Trust gathered.

The incident, which occurred last Monday night, came barely three days after seven persons were kidnapped at a football viewing centre in Birnin Magaji local government area of the state.

Residents told Daily Trust that the armed men laid siege around 11:30pm and started firing gunshots into the air to scare people away.

“They went house-to-house, picking people and then assembling them under a huge mango tree on the outskirt of the town before they disappeared into the forest.

“About 7 residential houses were ransacked. They captured one woman and asked her to show them residences of wealthy individuals but she refused, they hit her and abandoned her on the street,” a resident, identified as Mashkur Zurmi said.

However, the state police command through its spokesperson, SP Muhammad Shehu, said they had repelled the attack on the community.

“Monday night, some unidentified hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers stormed Majema area in Zurmi LGA with a view to causing mayhem and break down of law and order in the community.

“On the spur of the moment, combined teams of Police/Military and Civilian JTF stationed in Zurmi responded promptly and repelled the attack.

“As a result, the attackers were forced to beat a retreat back to Dumburum forest. Sadly enough, 13 persons were later discovered to have been kidnapped by the attackers,” he said.

He said the Police command dispatched a Search and Rescue Operation team to complement the effort of the joint security personnel currently on extensive bush combing.

The command appeals for continued support and cooperation from the public by giving timely and useful information on activities of criminal elements in the state to the Police and other security agencies.