Northwest Nigerians in the Zamfara State Local Government Areas of Mafara and Maradun claim that terrorists kidnapped 35 individuals on Thursday.
According to reports, the terrorists attacked Talata-Mafara town at around 2:45am last week Thursday and kidnapped 11 employees of the Mafara-based Triacta Company and the Nigerian Power Holding Company.
Local resident Lukman Aliyu-Mafara told reporters that several of the area’s homes had also been destroyed by the terrorists.
“They also injured a boy who was rushed to the General Hospital for treatment. The armed group operation covered almost half of the Talata-Mafara community.”
Kamal Alkali, a staff of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic said he narrowly escaped being shot.
“I reside in the Low-Cost area where the armed terrorists launched the attack. I narrowly escaped a bullet when they followed through our street. I lay down and sneaked my way into the car park area which gave me cover to run for my life.”
Four of the twelve victims were taken hostage at midnight, but after hours of hiking through the jungle, four managed to escape.
Umar Kahinta, one of the escaped abductees said “We were pushed into the forest in a crowd of more than 47 farmers abducted from unknown places. After hours of trekking, four of us dodged and sneaked our way into the thick forest pretending to ease ourselves as we stayed to rest a bit.”
Another attack was reported in the Maradun region’s Damaga village, where it resulted in the kidnapping of 23 people who were traveling to a farm.
The incidents were confirmed by Yazid Abubakar, the Zamfara State Police Command’s spokesperson.
“We received information of the attack in Maradun and Marafa at the headquarters. That is why we promptly mobilized our team for ensuring the protection of life and properties in all the areas,” he said.
He did not respond to questions seeking information on the number of residents kidnapped during the attack.