The attacks began on Saturday, August 23.

The assailants were said to have stormed the villages on
motorbikes while shooting sporadically.

Muhammadu Mai Anguwa, village head of Gamdum Mallam, told
Reuters that the bandits “killed and kidnapped many women and children” during
the attack.

Anguwa said the gunmen took the kidnap victims towards
Makakari forest.

Huzaifa Isa, a resident of Gamdum Mallam, told the news
agency that the attackers split into two groups, with one camp carrying out the
abduction as the other mounted a roadblock.

“One group was kidnapping people and livestock, while the
other set up a roadblock at Adafka’s main entrance, shooting at anyone who
tried to pass,” he said.

“We were being treated like slaves in our own land, as if
there is no government.”

Hamisu Faru, lawmaker representing Bukkuyum south
constituency in the Zamfara house of assembly, said over 100 people have been
abducted in the communities since last weekend.

“At least 100 people have been abducted since Saturday
morning,” Faru said.

“The bandits attacked Nasarawa Burkullum under heavy rain,
crossed the river into nearby villages, and abducted 46 more people in Ruwan
Rana village.”

There has been an uptick in gunmen attacks on Zamfara
communities lately.

In early August, gunmen raided several communities in Kauran
Namoda LGA, killing 24 people, injuring 16, and abducting 144.

In July, bandits reportedly killed 33 kidnap victims in
Banga town after collecting a ransom of N50 million.