Bandits stormed Madabanciya village in Bungudu local government area of Zamfara State, on Sunday night, where they abducted a newlywed husband and wife.

An indigene of the area, Ibrahim Sani, said the bandits arrived in the village on foot around 11.45pm on Sunday, leaving their motorcycles outside the village.

Sani said the bandits, who were in large numbers, were wielding sophisticated weapons and immediately they arrived at the village, they began to shoot indiscriminatelg to scare residents.

According to him, the bandits went from house to house in search of food items and other valuables.

He added, “They stole large number of animals, food items and other valuables.

“In the process of going round the village, they came across a newly married couple and took them to the forest.”

Sani said there was no security agent attached to the village to protect the lives and property of the people, despite the security challenges affecting the state.

He called on the authorities to deploy security personnel to the area, concluding that “if something is not done on time, we will be left with no option than to relocate to other places.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar, could not be reached for comment as of the time of sending this report.

On its part, the state government has concluded arrangements to launch its Community Protection Guards next Wednesday.

They would be deployed to their respective localities to help the security personnel in the fight against banditry.

Zamfara has been facing frequent attacks by bandits, resulting in the loss of lives and the abduction of numerous individuals over the past few months.

In December 2023, bandits invaded Zurmi town, the headquarters of Zurmi LGA of the state, resulting in the loss of one life, injuries to two persons, and the abduction of 15 people.

Also, in November 2023, four communities in Maru LGA were abandoned after 110 people were kidnapped by bandits for not paying a notorious bandit kingpin a monthly levy.

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