In Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, terrorists orchestrated a series of coordinated attacks on Friday, abducting over 100 residents across multiple villages. The motive behind these abductions stemmed from the villagers’ alleged failure to pay a N110 million protection levy.
The assailants responsible for this act are reportedly loyal to Damina, a terror kingpin known to operate in the Dansadau axis of the state.
The affected villages include Mutunji, Unguwar Kawo, Kwantar Dutsi, and Sabon Garin Mahuta, where the abductions took place.
According to information gathered by newsmen, Damina led a motorcycle-mounted gang of terrorists.
They strategically surrounded the community shortly after the dusk prayer at 8:00 p.m., exacerbating the vulnerability of the targeted residents.
“We were sitting in a place called Yar Kasuwa after the Isha’i prayers when the terrorists stormed the community. They surrounded the community while others drove into the community centre. We began running but it was already too late. They matched people into the forest,” he said.
Men, women and children were abducted, he said.
Unknown to the residents of Mutunji, other neighbouring communities were being raided at the time.
“They also attacked other communities including Unguwar Kawo, Kwanar Dutsi and Sabon Garin Mahuta and took away several people. We’ve at least 100 people taken. We’re still counting to ascertain the true number of those taken,” another source said.
The source said Mr Damina attacked Mutunji because the village failed to give him N50 million he asked them to pay as compensation for “informing soldiers” of the terrorists’ movements.
Mr Damina gave the residents a week to gather the money but the source said they couldn’t gather it.
“We were trying to gather the money reaching out to people when he (Mr Damina) decided to strike.
“He had also imposed such levy on the other communities. Kwana residents were asked to pay N30 million, people of Sabon Garin Mahuta were asked to gather N20 million while residents of Unguwar Kawo were asked to pay N10 million,” he said.
The police spokesperson in the state, Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the attack.
The North-west subregion has been battling terrorists, also called bandits, for over a decade.
The terrorists have killed and abducted thousands of people and tens of thousands of others have been displaced in the region.
The terrorists primarily target schools, religious houses, travellers and rural communities.
