No fewer than 40 residents from 11 communities in the Mayanchi District of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by armed bandits.

It was gathered that the attackers are loyalists of a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Sa’idu, with most of the abducted victims reportedly women and children.

Sources said Kachalla Sa’idu has long terrorised communities in Maru, Maradun and Talata Mafara local government areas of the state.

A visit to some of the affected communities revealed scores of women and children hurriedly packing their belongings and fleeing for fear of further attacks and abductions.

A resident, Alhaji Lauwali Abdullahi, said that about a week ago, gunmen loyal to Kachalla Sa’idu invaded Garagi village in an attempt to abduct residents.

According to him, villagers resisted the attack, killing one of the bandits and seizing his rifle.
He said the bandit leader subsequently threatened to attack all neighbouring communities up to Mayanchi town unless the rifle was returned.

Another source disclosed that Kachalla Sa’idu sent a message to community leaders threatening to kill all those currently being held captive if his seized rifle was not returned or replaced with another firearm.

Chairman of Maru Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Jabaka, confirmed the incident, saying the council was aware of the security situation in the Mayanchi District.

He said the local government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking steps to restore peace and address the worsening insecurity in the area.

Jabaka acknowledged that bandits had continued to terrorise communities across the local government, stressing that urgent measures were needed to tackle the menace.

Mayanchi District is a strategic area linking Sokoto State with the Niger Republic, as well as Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State and parts of Niger State.