Breaking 7 Months Peace Deal, Terrorists Abduct 50 Locals, Set Zamfara Community Ablaze
Residents say dozens of terrorists came in three subgroups, with motorcycles, shooting sporadically into the air.
Terrorists on Monday, Jan. 6, set the Gana district ablaze in the Bukuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara, North West Nigeria.
The locals had signed a peace deal with the armed group seven months ago, paying millions as protection levy. Suddenly, the criminal gang invaded the village and launched a deadly midnight onslaught, abducting about 50 civilians, mostly old men, women and children. The terrorists moved the abductees to their den located in the Gando forest.
Residents say the terrorist group came in three subgroups, with motorcycles, shooting sporadically into the air. While some of them ransacked homes and shops, some busied themselves by setting the community ablaze, and the third subgroup engaged in sporadic shootings and gathering unprotected people for abduction.
One of the victims, Aisha Mohammed Gana, a pregnant woman, was released by her captors after realising that she was pregnant.
“They broke my door and crashed into my room. My husband ran away when he noticed a strange movement in the house. One of the gang members shouldered his gun and asked me to go with them since my husband ran away. We were moved to Dutsin Gana mountain with about 45 people,” Aisha told HumAngle. “From there, we started trekking until we reached another group of gunmen waiting for us. One of them saw me pregnant and shouted at his armed men to release me along with five others who are old.”
Garba Haure, the district head of Gana town, confirmed the incident to HumAngle.
“I travelled to Bukuyum, the LGA headquarters, when the incident happened. I had to return today to commiserate with the relatives of the victims. We have 46 men, women, and children that have been abducted altogether and still counting. Although we got seven others released by the terrorists this morning,” the monarch said.
“The terrorists had been attacking the Gana community on several occasions, but it is the worst of all attacks. I just reported to the Bukuyum Emirate Council for contact and tracing the whereabouts of the abductees. So that credible information can be provided to the security operatives for the rescue mission,” he added.
Shamsuddeen Aliyu, the councillor for the Nasarawa/Gwashi ward, expressed shock over the incident. He said: “The armed group broke peace with the community after 7 months. We agreed to pay a protection levy against the terrorists’ invasion and allow us to visit our farms. Yet these terrorists remained persistent in attacking us. This is the worst of all attacks.”
Yazid Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Zamfara, could not be reached by phone when contacted by HumAngle for comments.
However, Modibbo Usman, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bukuyum LGA, confirmed the incident to HumAngle, saying, “The police, Nigerian Army, and the Community Protection Guards from Nasarawa-Burkullu outposts responded to the distress calls by the Gana community, a situation that helped in rescuing the escaped victims.”
On January 6th, terrorists attacked Gana district in Bukuyum, Zamfara, Northwest Nigeria, despite a peace deal involving a protection levy.
They abducted around 50 people, mainly vulnerable groups, and set the community on fire. Aisha Mohammed Gana, a pregnant woman, was released along with some elders during the ordeal. Garba Haure, Gana's district head, and Shamsuddeen Aliyu, Nasarawa/Gwashi's councillor, highlighted it as the worst attack, despite previous incidents.
Although the Police Public Relations Officer was unavailable for comment, local police confirmed the incident and mentioned the involvement of security forces in rescue attempts.
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