Suspected gunmen have killed one person and abducted four others in separate attacks within two weeks in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State, according to former lawmaker Maryam Bagel. The incidents have heightened fear among residents of Kagadama and Bagel villages.
First attack targets pharmacy owner with ₦50m ransom demand
Bagel disclosed in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the first victim was a pharmacy owner in Kagadama village. The kidnappers later demanded ₦50 million for his release. "The first person kidnapped was a pharmacy owner operating in Kagadama. They demanded ₦50m to release him. Where are they expecting a village pharmacy owner to have ₦50m? I wonder," she said.
Second attack leaves man dead in front of family
Less than a week later, the attackers returned to Bagel village and targeted a man named Shahibi, who had been kidnapped about a year earlier. Bagel reported that the gunmen shot him multiple times in the chest and stomach in the presence of his wife—her cousin—and their children. "They killed him with several bullets in the chest and stomach in the presence of his wife, who happens to be my cousin, and their children," she wrote.
Third abduction spree claims three more victims
On Tuesday, the gunmen again raided Kagadama village, attempting to abduct another shop owner. Although the intended target escaped after the attackers opened fire, the gunmen abducted three others: a 10-year-old boy, a young man who had just returned from the hospital, and another resident.
Police confirm operations to rescue victims
Bauchi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, confirmed the attacks and said security operatives have launched operations to rescue those abducted and arrest the suspects. "Our men are aware of the situation and are on top of the matter. Protecting lives and property is our mandate, and we will not allow the wave of insecurity to take away the peace we enjoy in Bauchi State," Habib stated.
Wider context: Recent deadly attack in Ningi LGA
The Dass attacks follow a similar incident in Rafin Ciyawa village, Ningi Local Government Area, where heavily armed bandits killed two children, injured six others, and abducted three residents. Police deployed the Violent Crime Reduction Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, local hunters, and vigilantes to track down the attackers and rescue the victims.
Concerns over rising insecurity in Bauchi
Bagel called on security agencies and the Bauchi State Government to act swiftly to prevent Dass LGA from becoming another kidnapping hotspot. She warned that residents are reliving the insecurity that affected parts of Bauchi State in previous years. The renewed attacks have raised concerns about the security situation in rural communities across the state.
