500 Nigerians Abducted by Bandits in Zamfara Village? Military Speaks Out

• The Nigerian military has debunked reports trending on social media which claimed that 500 persons were abducted in Zamfara
• The military stated that its men are "actively fighting a vicious enemy in a complex combat environment”
• Legit.ng reports that for more than a decade, Nigeria has been severely affected by terrorism and violent extremism

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public journalism.

Gusau, Zamfara state - The defence headquarters (DHQ) on Friday, May 17, said reports on social media that 500 villagers were abducted by bandits in Zamfara state were exaggerated.

As reported by The Nation, the military said the actual number of villagers abducted in Zurmi local government area (LGA) was four.

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Major-General Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said this in a statement.

Reall that Bello Shinkafi, a member of the national assembly who hails from Zamfara state, was quoted in the media to have said that over 500 locals from 50 villages were abducted by terrorists in the state.

However, the military high command described the figure as “fictitious and exaggerated,” adding that “in reality, troops can confirm that four persons were abducted.”

Buba stated that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara were “actively fighting a vicious enemy in a complex combat environment” within several factors on and off the battlefield.

Leadership newspaper also noted the DHQ's stance.

He said:

“Troops are compelled to deal with two realities. The virtual reality as well as the reality on the ground. The virtual reality which is mostly on social media is more of fictitious figures and extreme exaggeration of the situation on the ground.

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“For instance, it is fictitious and exaggerated to state that over 500 people were abducted by terrorists, while in reality troops can confirm that four persons were abduction.

“It must be recalled that same was experienced during the Kuriga abduction during which the figures brandished were much higher than those truly abducted.”

Military declares foreigner, Halilu Buzu, wanted

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian military declared one Halilu Buzu wanted for terrorist activities, cattle rustling, illegal arms supplies, and illegal mining.

Announcing this in Abuja at the bi-weekly media briefing of the defence media operations, Major-General Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said Buzu, who is an indigene of Niger Republic, resides in a forest in Zamfara state, and often escapes to the French-speaking nation after striking in Nigeria.

Source: Legit.ng