Media in Nigeria reported that nearly 100 people were abducted in Zamfara state, in the northwestern part of the country. Bandits are said to have raided four villages, where they kidnapped residents for allegedly failing to pay protection levies imposed on the communities.
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Dozens kidnapped by motorcycle 'bandits' in Nigeria
At least 100 people have been abducted by gunmen in Nigeria's northwest, residents have said.
Locals told the BBC that armed men on motorcycles stormed villages in Zamfara state.
The residents were kidnapped after the villages failed to pay a "tax" imposed on them by the gunmen, witnesses said.
In recent years, kidnapping for ransom has become rife in north-western Nigeria.
Armed gangs, referred to locally as bandits, target villages, schools, and travellers, demanding millions of naira in ransom.
According to the Reuters news agency, a local village head said one resident was killed in Friday's attack.
The BBC heard from a resident from the village of Mutunji, who said he was abducted by the gunmen but managed to escape.
"We are trying to collect the money... but suddenly the bandits came in and robbed people. They took more than 100 people - most of them were women and young people," the resident said.
Locals told the BBC the gunmen's leader is named "Damana".
They said Damana controls most of the region in the absence of state security forces.
"The terrorists are in control of the area - they send us to the forest to work as agricultural labourers, and when we come back they come into the town to eat meat, tea and bottled goods without paying," one villager complained.
Nigeria faces multiple security challenges: the jihadist insurgency in the north, deadly clashes between animal herders and farmers, a separatist insurgency in the southeast as well as militants in the Niger Delta demanding a greater share of oil profits.
President Bola Tinubu, who took office in May, has yet to detail how he will tackle the insecurity. During his election campaign, Mr Tinubu's office acknowledged the challenge, touting his experience as governor of north-eastern Borno state, home to many Islamist militant groups and the Boko Haram insurgency.
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Rain Pryor, the daughter of American comedian and actor, Richard Pryor, has commenced shooting of her Nollywood-Hollywood film project in Nigeria.
The untitled film centers around the Yoruba Ifa Mythology, a subject she has studied over the years, then decided to make a movie about.
As an actress, Rain has featured in several film and TV credits and sitcoms including Head of the Class and Rude Awakening.
The film, which is her debut directorial role, is a cross-cultural affair that unites Nollywood and Hollywood talents, with Nollywood actor, Odunlade Adekola in the lead role as Oba Fagbemi.
“I am a fan of Nollywood. In the last year and a half, Nollywood has flooded the United States through Netflix and other streaming platforms, and I have watched King of Boys, Jagun Jagun among others. I have also watched Adekola’s acting range and what he can do and believe he possesses what is needed for the character of Oba Fagbemi in the film, and that’s why I chose him,” said the 53-year-old actress who was renamed Osunyemi Oriomodun (Osun Priestess).
For Rain, the project is life-changing as it was for her late father who had visited Africa during his lifetime.
“I have a family that is rich in tradition and culture, and when I travelled to Nigeria to learn about the Yoruba culture, predominantly Ifa, I thought how can I collaborate with Nigerians and Black Americans to create something that is a mixture of Hollywood and Nollywood? My father made profound changes in his life when he came to Africa, and felt that he found his soul and himself, and here I am, doing the same thing, finding my place.”
Arguably the first of its kind, in terms of magnitude of the collaboration between the two film industries (Nollywood and Hollywood), Rain is confident it will excite viewers in the United States and Nigeria with its rich and cross-cultural plot.
Working closely with her to achieve this feat are Nigerian filmmaker Bola Attah, and Arts Consultant, Chike Nwoffiah. Both serve as executive directors in the project contributing their expertise to the success of the film.
By Samuel Abulude, Leadership
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Located in the crowded megacity of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, the Shadow Rage Room offers 20-minute sessions for 7,500 naira ($8.93).
Banjoko Babajide James, a co-founder, said the idea for the rage room came from the rising mental health crisis in Nigeria which is "a taboo topic" to discuss openly.
"We want to create a community of like minds, to make people to understand that this thing is real and we are going to try to push it out," he said.
Patrons are outfitted in protective gear, a baseball bat and a selection of items to break, including glass cups and plates, electronics, and furniture.
The room has been a hit with Lagosians, who have been flocking to release the stress of the country's soaring cost of living, disputed presidential election, and widespread insecurity.
"I was really angry," said Nancy Igwe, a customer, after her session. "Living in Lagos, it is terrible, it is frustrating when you see that the prices of everything has increased."
Anita Christian, another customer, said she came to the rage room after losing a friend.
"I had to come and vent because when you don’t get clarity or closure it is really sad," she said.
While the room has been well-received, James acknowledges that not everyone understands the concept.
"The perception people get when they encounter the rage room is a place where we are promoting anger," he said. "We always try to explain that we are not doing that."
By Angela Ukomadu, Reuters
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Clashes between rival militant groups in Nigeria have left 60 dead. Sources told AFP that fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province ambushed a fleet of Boko Haram boats on Lake Chad this past weekend.
