Attack on Rafin Ciyawa Village Leaves Two Children Dead
Bandits have killed two children, injured six others, and abducted three residents during an attack on Rafin Ciyawa village in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The attackers stormed the village around 12:30 am on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, firing sporadically and throwing the community into panic, according to residents.
Gunmen Target Sleeping Boys Outside Qur’anic Teacher’s House
A resident, Zubairu Yahaya, told Daily Trust that the gunmen first opened fire on a group of boys sleeping outside their Qur’anic teacher’s house because of the hot weather. “Two of the children died on the spot, while six others sustained serious gunshot injuries,” he said. The attack left the community in shock and fear.
Bandits Seek Brothers, Abduct Three Relatives
Another resident, who requested anonymity, said the bandits later searched houses for two brothers, Saminu and Safiyanu, believing they had recently received a large sum of money. Unable to find them, the attackers abducted three relatives identified as Rukkaya, Samsiyya and Kabiru. The bandits later contacted the victims’ families and reportedly reduced their ransom demand from N100 million to N10 million, according to residents.
Negotiations Underway, Community Appeals for Security
Mukhtar Usman, whose relatives were among those abducted, confirmed that negotiations were ongoing. Community leaders appealed to the federal and Bauchi State governments to establish a permanent security presence in the area to prevent future attacks.
Police Deploy Special Units to Rescue Victims
The Police Public Relations Officer in Bauchi State, SP Nafiu Habib, confirmed the attack, saying the command had deployed operatives of the Violent Crime Reduction Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, local hunters and vigilantes to rescue the victims and arrest the suspects. The police urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
