Bandits Kill Soldiers, Abduct About 70 Residents In Zamfara Community

Armed attackers have hit Kasuwar Daji in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, with residents and reports saying soldiers were killed and scores of people were abducted after a military outpost was overrun.

The accounts agree on the community, the attack on the military position and the abduction of about 70 residents, but they differ on the number of soldiers killed. Vanguard reported six soldiers killed and more than 70 residents abducted, while Daily Post reported four soldiers killed and about 70 residents taken away.

Both reports said the attack happened on Saturday night and that the gunmen later entered the community, where they looted shops and moved abducted residents into the bush. Daily Post said many of those taken were women and children, citing a conflict reporter who first disclosed the incident.

Vanguard quoted residents as saying the attackers arrived in large numbers and opened fire before overrunning the military post. A former deputy speaker from the area, Namadi Kasuwar Daji, also confirmed an attack on the community and said an unspecified number of residents were abducted.

The police response remained unclear in the reports. Vanguard said the Zamfara police spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he was not aware of the attack at the time he was contacted and would check with officers in the area.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Post