Gunmen have kidnapped over 50 people in Zamfara state, Nigeria, marking the first mass abduction this year. The region has seen a troubling trend of large-scale attacks by armed bandits, leading to a worsening malnutrition crisis as locals are driven off their farms. This violence arose from land and water conflicts but has evolved into organized crime. The situation has deteriorated since 2011, with increased arms trafficking contributing to the formation of these gangs in north-west Nigeria. Military efforts to combat these gangs have been hampered by overstretched resources.
In a troubling trend, armed bandits in Zamfara state have shifted strategies towards mass kidnappings, with over 50 individuals taken in a recent incident.
Since 2011, the rise in arms trafficking has contributed to the formation of organized armed gangs in north-west Nigeria, leading to an increase in cattle rustling and kidnappings.
The ongoing conflict, rooted in disputes over land and water rights, has grown into a severe organized crime problem that targets rural communities lacking proper government presence.
The violence in north-west Nigeria has exacerbated a malnutrition crisis as attacks drive people off their farms, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and food insecurity.
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