Criminal gangs of “bandits” murdered at least 11 people and abducted another 80 people in terror-plagued northwest Nigeria.

Armed lawless thugs are attacking schools, villages and travelers on the road in Zamfara state. The purpose of the attacks is to create chaos and fear in advance of the upcoming presidential election that will take place in February 2023.

In the village of Masu, 50 people, consisting mostly of married women, were abducted by the armed attackers. “We had over 50 married women being abducted along with quite unknown number of innocent farmers,” Sarkin Fawa Masu, a traditional leader, said.

The gang released some of the women but two men were hospitalized after being severely beaten, according to witnesses. At least 27 were still being held by the bandits. 

On November 6, 11 people were killed in the Yar Tasha community of the Bungudu and Zurmi areas, and at least seven farmers were kidnapped, including a head of a district, according to residents. Many children were recently kidnapped in the Katsina state in the north, and ransom was demanded. 

The violence in Nigeria has escalated since 2020 and the government is unable to provide security for people in remote areas. 

The armed terrorists loot villages, steal farm animals, and take people hostage. Over 800 school-aged children were abducted in the past two years. The terrorists demanded money for their return.

In the last 10 years, over 30,000 people have been killed in Nigeria by the terrorist group Boko Haram. The attacks have spread into neighboring countries, like Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Over two million people have fled from their homes due to the terror.