Terrorists have abducted at least 23 farmers from various communities across the Zurmi area of Zamfara, North West Nigeria. The communities include Gandasamu, Kadawa, Jabanda, and Nasamu.

The incident happened around 6:20 p.m. on Monday, April 29.

HumAngle learnt that Earlier athe armed group had planned an attack on the Zurmi local government headquarters. Shortly after receiving a distress call from Zurmi residents, the Nigeria Army deployed its personnel with armoured tanks to confront the gangs. The terrorists, however, resorted to attacking other communities a few hours later. 

Residents of Zurmi led by the village head of Gidan-Duwa, whose name is withheld for security reasons, reported the impending attack after observing that the armed group spent a long time mobilising its members across various camps and headed towards the town.

Ibrahim Muhammad Liman, an eyewitness residing in the Kanwuri area of Zurmi, told HumAngle, “We were at the Emirate when the village head reported to the Council that the armed marauders were presently gathering with their bikes in large numbers. We concluded they were trying to move to Zurmi for a heinous attack.”

Everyone panicked, he said. It was only about a week ago that the town suffered an attack that led to the killing of three people and the abduction of three others, including the Shamakin Zurmi (an officer in the emir’s palace).

Another resident, Usman Bala Zurmi, said, “We called and notified the security agencies, including the Askarawas (Community Protection Guards), to repel the attack.”