Some areas of the north have been struggling with banditry for a long time. The issue has become worse to the point where certain Zamfara communities have bandits breaking into people’s houses and abusing the women.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, a resident of Kalgon Kunci village in Zamfara State’s Tsafe Local Government Area, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the bandits had previously come to rustle cattle and kidnap people for ransom, but that they now arrived during the day and stayed until midnight.
According to the report by Vanguard, the man said that the bandits invade their community dressed in uniform and carrying guns, and that when they come, they abuse women in the community. He added that if any woman resists them, they would kidnap her to the bush and do whatever they want to do and bring her back after some days.
He said, “Previously, the bandits would come to our community, humiliate us, rustle our animals, and abduct people for ransom. Now, however, they would come in broad daylight and remain till midnight.
“They would be dressed in uniform carrying guns. I swear it has reached a level where they would enter any house they like and abuse women. If a woman resisted, they would abduct her, do whatever they want with her in the bush and bring her back after 2,3 or 4 days.”
He added that people who have places to run to are leaving the community on a daily basis.
