Bandits Storm Kaduna Community, Assault Widow and Kidnap Her Two Daughters
In a harrowing incident that underscores the persistent security challenges in parts of Kaduna State, bandits have abducted two daughters of a widow in the Maraban Rido community, located within Chikun Local Government Area. The gunmen carried out their brazen attack on Monday, February 2, 2026, forcefully breaking into the family's residence late at night and seizing the victims.
Details of the Abduction and Assault
The victims have been identified as Deborah Edward, a corps member who recently completed her National Youth Service Corps programme in December 2025, and her younger sister, Rachael Edward. According to accounts from the scene, the assailants initially abducted the girls' mother, Mrs. Alice Edward, alongside her daughters and a visitor named Priscilla, who was staying overnight at the house.
Mrs. Edward, a widow, recounted that her daughters pleaded with the bandits to release her, explaining that she was their only surviving parent. "My daughters begged the attackers to let me go so that nothing would happen to me, as we had all been ill before the attack," she told journalists on Tuesday, February 3. The bandits eventually heeded their pleas and released Mrs. Edward but held onto the two sisters and Priscilla, taking them away into the night.
Escape and Ordeal of a Survivor
Priscilla, who is currently receiving treatment in a hospital, provided a chilling account of her experience. After Mrs. Edward was released, the bandits severely beat Priscilla with their guns until she lost consciousness and fainted. "They assumed I was dead when I collapsed," she said. She only regained consciousness the next morning when a good Samaritan came to her rescue.
During the assault, Priscilla disclosed that she told the attackers her parents had no money to pay a ransom. In response, they threatened to kill her in a miserable manner and intensified the beating until she collapsed. Her escape highlights the brutal nature of the attack and the risks faced by victims in such situations.
Context of Rising Insecurity
This incident occurred barely two weeks after the abduction of over 177 worshippers in the Kurmin Wali community from ECWA and Cherubim and Seraphim churches, heightening concerns over a resurgence of insecurity in parts of Kaduna State. Community leaders have expressed alarm at the deteriorating security situation.
Pastor Solomon Emmanuel, a community leader, noted that insecurity has remained prevalent in the area for some time. "We appeal to the government to urgently intensify security presence in our community," he stressed, adding that residents lack the capacity to defend themselves against armed attackers.
Calls for Action
Residents of Maraban Rido have continued to call on security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further attacks and ensure the safe return of those abducted. The community's pleas underscore the urgent need for enhanced security measures and government intervention to address the growing threat of banditry in Kaduna State.
As the search for Deborah and Rachael Edward continues, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by communities in conflict-affected regions, particularly widows and their families who are often targeted in such attacks.
