At least 45 women and children were kidnapped overnight during coordinated raids on five villages in Nigeria’s Zamfara state, according to local witnesses.

The gunmen stormed Sabongarin Damri and nearby communities, including Sade, Tungar Tsalle, Tungar Sodangi, and Tungar Musa Dogo, in an attack that stretched into the early morning hours.

This followed another abduction in the same region just two days earlier, where 70 people were taken.

"They mostly kidnapped women and children after killing some of our people," said Hassan Dauda, a resident of Tungar Tsalle. "As I'm speaking to you now, some residents have started fleeing their community due to fear."

Shehu Musa, the traditional leader of Damri, confirmed that the villages, all located within half a kilometre of one another were targeted by armed assailants known locally as 'bandits.'

Despite intervention by security forces, the attackers escaped with hostages and stolen cattle after killing several villagers.

In a separate incident in northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram militants attacked Kennari village in Borno state, abducting 15 people and killing the village head.

The group is reportedly demanding a ransom of 30 million naira (about $19,650) for the release of the captives.

Copied