Gunmen abduct ‘several residents’ in separate attacks on Kaduna communities

Kaduna map

Gunmen have reportedly abducted several residents in Kaduna after attacking multiple villages in two LGAs.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the attackers struck Agwallan Centre, Janwuriya, and Afogo villages in Kajuru LGA on Thursday evening, whisking away an unspecified number of people who were returning from their farms.

Zagazola said the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons.

Hours later, another group of gunmen reportedly invaded Kallah and Aokpeshura villages in the same local government, firing sporadically and abducting more residents, including women and children.

In the raid on Kallah village, residents identified as Simon Audi, 29; Beuty Audu, 23; and Holliness Simon, a six-month-old baby, were among the abductees.

Citing community sources, Zagazola reported Enoch Simon, a 40-year-old resident, was later rescued, while Anthony Saidu, 32, and Jenecy Obasanjo, 20, were taken to a hospital in Kujama for treatment after sustaining injuries.

A repentant bandit, identified as Babban Gayya, was blamed for the attacks. Gayya was allegedly seeking revenge for the killing of some of his men by military operatives.

Meanwhile, in Kauru LGA, gunmen reportedly moved from house to house, abducting an unconfirmed number of residents from Kuyan Bana village.

The attack was said to have happened on the same day as the Kajuru LGA.

Zagazola reported that the gunmen arrived in the community and began shooting sporadically, causing panic among villagers, before they began abducting residents.

Troops were later mobilised to the area, cordoning off the surrounding forests and launching a search-and-rescue operation. Thecable