Unidentified gunmen abducted a group of individuals, consisting of students and staff members from a university in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Zamfara, according to a government official quoted by Xinhua news agency. The reported number of kidnapped individuals stands at a minimum of 35.
According to Xinhua news agency, Mugira Yusuf, spokesperson for the governor of Zamfara State, stated that heavily armed gunmen launched an attack on several hostels in the Sabon-Gida area of the state. As a result, 24 students, 10 workers, and a security guard from the Federal University Gusau were taken hostage.
“The security forces have launched a search for the victims, as well as making efforts to arrest the attackers,” Yusuf said.
Local police have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Between January and June of this year, armed groups in Nigeria’s northwestern region have kidnapped over 1,100 individuals, as stated in a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This region has been suffering from the persistent issues of banditry and various criminal activities.
According to the report, the region has witnessed over 8,000 casualties and the displacement of over 200,000 individuals due to violence since 2011. In response to these alarming numbers, the Nigerian government has taken measures by deploying troops and initiating various security operations. However, despite these efforts, the situation in the region continues to be highly volatile and unpredictable.
(With inputs from Xinhua)
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
