In yet another brazen affront on Nigeria, a gang of gunmen have reportedly kidnapped more than 50 women and children in a raid on Kakin Dawa village in Nigeria’s northwest Zamfara state, police and residents said.

Zamfara has been an epicentre of violence ranging from terrorism to banditry in the north with armed bandits often seen in marketplaces lugging guns and other dangerous weapons.

Locals link the heavy presence of bandits in the state to the thriving business of mining including illegal and artisanal mining of gold and other precious metals.

Cases of kidnapping for ransom by gunmen, known by locals as bandits, is common in northwest Nigeria due to high levels of poverty, unemployment and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

Zamfara police told Reuters that the incident took place on Sunday and that additional security forces were being deployed to the area.