Jul 17, 2021 - World

Gunmen abduct dozens of villagers, kill one person in northwestern Nigeria

Erin Doherty

Hassana Ayuba, one of the parents of the abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, looks on in her home following the abduction of her 14-year-old daughter. — Hassana Ayuba looks on in her home following the abduction of her 14-year-old daughter (Judith) who was among the 140 students kidnapped by gunmen in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria, on July 15. Photo: Kola Sulaimon / AFP via Getty Images

Gunmen abducted at least 60 people and killed one person in northwestern Nigeria after riding motorbikes into five villages and firing into the air, Reuters reports.

The big picture: The abductions come amid an increase in armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria, predominately in northwestern areas.

A kidnapping took place in Zamfara state on Friday and gunmen killed a village head, a police official and council member, per Reuters.
The gunmen, known locally as bandits, have increasingly targeted schools.

Driving the news: "The armed bandits rode on over 70 motorbikes and each motorbike was (carrying) three people with weapons destroying properties and abducting people," Junaidu Badarawa, one of five people who were kidnapped but later released, told Reuters.

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Gunmen abduct dozens of villagers, kill one person in northwestern Nigeria

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