Nigerian gunmen seek talks after abducting dozens, families say

Gunmen abducted 105 people in northwest Nigeria last week, demanding negotiations with the Zamfara state government instead of ransom payments, according to five families of the victims contacted by the armed men. The attackers seized residents from villages in Zamfara's Birnin-Magaji local government area. The families received calls from the abductors, urging the government to negotiate. Zamfara's information commissioner criticized individuals advocating for negotiations with the kidnappers, stating that the government rejected the proposed peace accord initiative.