Bandits Launch Deadly Night Raid in Kaduna Community
Suspected bandits have carried out a brutal attack in the Sabon Gero community, located within Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The assailants struck in the dead of night, resulting in the tragic death of a vigilante member and the abduction of eight individuals, including a pregnant woman and a nursing mother with her infant.
Details of the Abduction and Escape
According to reports from Daily Trust, the gunmen invaded the community around midnight on Sunday. They targeted a specific household, forcibly taking the victims away. One of the victims, Jamila Alhaji Ado, managed to escape and recounted the harrowing experience.
"They came into the house at night and gathered us together with our children and the other women, including a pregnant woman and a nursing mother with her baby, and took us away," she stated. Jamila explained that despite her inability to walk due to physical limitations, the abductors forced her to trek for hours through the bush.
"I told them I could not walk, but they forced me. As we started moving, they noticed I was falling, so they left me in the bush and continued," she added, highlighting the callous nature of the kidnappers.
Family's Plea for Help After Ransom Demand
The head of the affected family, Alhaji Ado Idris, revealed that the bandits had previously contacted him approximately three weeks prior to the attack, demanding a ransom. "They called me about three weeks ago asking for money, and I told them I had none," he said. This refusal likely precipitated the violent incursion.
Idris described the terrifying moment the gunmen returned: "When they entered, they started shooting, but they did not see me. They took my wives, including the pregnant one and the nursing mother with her baby, and my other children. Right now, seven members of my family are in their hands in the bush. I am appealing for help to rescue them." The total number of abductees includes the pregnant woman, nursing mother with baby, and five other family members, making eight individuals in captivity.
Vigilante Member Killed During the Operation
In a separate but related incident during the raid, the attackers also killed a vigilante member named Abdulrahman Lawal. Aliyu Muktar, a community vigilante leader, confirmed the death, stating that Lawal was attacked at his shop. "The attackers were shooting after surrounding the area. He struggled with one of them before they shot him," Muktar explained.
The father of the deceased, Muhammadu Lawal, shared the heartbreaking news that his son succumbed to gunshot injuries while being transported to the hospital. "My son died on the way to the hospital after sustaining gunshot injuries," he lamented. Additionally, reports indicate that bandits killed another young man in a different community, underscoring the escalating violence in the region.
Community in Distress Amid Rising Insecurity
This attack highlights the persistent security challenges faced by communities in Kaduna State. The brazen nature of the abduction, following a direct ransom demand, points to a calculated and ruthless operation by criminal elements. Local residents are living in fear as such incidents continue to disrupt lives and threaten safety.
Authorities and security agencies are urged to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted family members and bring the perpetrators to justice. The community's appeal for assistance echoes a broader call for enhanced security measures to protect vulnerable populations from such traumatic events.
