Armed men attacked five villages overnight in the northwestern Zamfara State

At least 45 women and children were abducted during coordinated overnight attacks on five villages in Nigeria's northwestern Zamfara State, local leaders confirmed on Tuesday.

The latest attacks occurred late Monday, when armed men returned to Sabongarin Damri village and raided the surrounding communities. The attack continued into the early morning hours, according to Shehu Musa, the traditional head of Damri, who spoke to Reuters by phone. Musa said the gunmen seized dozens of people from the villages, which lie within a half-kilometer radius of each other. 

Security forces reportedly engaged the attackers during Monday's raid, killing three of the gunmen. However, they were unable to prevent the militants from fleeing with hostages and stolen livestock. Civilian casualties were also reported, though the number of those killed has not yet been confirmed.

The incident is the second large-scale kidnapping in the region in recent days. Armed men on motorbikes killed 11 people and kidnapped at least 70 others, including women and children, in Sabongarin Damri on Saturday.

Channels Television reported on July 28 that in Zamfara, bandits killed at least 38 individuals - victims they had abducted in March - even after receiving a ransom of more than 50 million naira (around $33,000). Local government official said the victims were among 56 people abducted from Banga village in Kauran Namoda, Zamfara state earlier this year. The BBC also reported that they were kidnapped in March.

"The government will not rest until every criminal involved in these atrocities is captured or neutralized," Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal said in a statement.

Nigeria has long been plagued by kidnappings conducted by criminal gangs and terrorist groups operating across the West African nation. The groups often hold victims for extended periods, demanding ransom payments for their release. The trend drew global attention in 2014, when Boko Haram militants abducted hundreds of schoolgirls from Chibok village in Borno State.

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More than 130 children and staff were kidnapped from a school in northern Kaduna State in March 2024 but were rescued by the army days later.