Suspected bandits have killed one person and abducted 11 others, including two nursing mothers and their babies during an attack on Ungwan Atiku community in Kachia local government area of Kaduna State.
The fresh incident was disclosed by former media aide to the late Kaduna State Governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Mr. Reuben Buhari, in a post on his verified social media page.
According to Buhari, the attackers invaded Ungwan Atiku village, shot and killed Mr. Joseph Simon before taking away 11 residents.
Those abducted were identified as Deborah David and her infant, Rejoice Jonathan and her infant, Deborah Aminu and her infant, Loise Geoffrey, Gerard Geoffrey, Mercy Timothy, Jummai Sunday and Wisdom Doctor.
The abduction of three nursing mothers alongside their babies has heightened fears over the safety and welfare of vulnerable victims in captivity, especially women and children.
“The bandits came into the village around 10 pm on Sunday and started shooting. Because they have attacked us many times before, people began to run immediately they heard the gunshots,” Ezekiel said.
“They killed one person and abducted 11 others. By Monday, one of the kidnapped had managed to escape and return home. Those still in captivity include women and babies who are less than one year old.”
It was alleged that bandits had been terrorising communities in the area for over three years through repeated attacks, kidnappings and killings.
He said residents had repeatedly reported the attacks to the Kachia Local Government authorities, traditional rulers and security agencies, including requests for the establishment of a security checkpoint at Angwan Koro junction, which he claimed serves as a major route used by the attackers.
“For more than three years, we have been pleading for a checkpoint at the junction because that is the route the bandits use to access our communities. We have reported these incidents to the local government and traditional rulers, but there has been no response,” he said.
He further alleged that security agencies had often failed to respond promptly to distress calls during attacks.
The latest attack has renewed calls for increased security presence in communities across Southern Kaduna, where residents have continued to express concerns over persistent incidents of banditry and kidnapping.
Suspected bandits have killed one person and abducted 11 others, including two nursing mothers and their babies during an attack on Ungwan Atiku community in Kachia local government area of Kaduna State.
A resident of the community, Mr Gideon Ezekiel, told that the attackers invaded the village at 10pm on Sunday.
According to him, a male resident, identified as Joseph Simon, was shot dead during the attack, while the gunmen abducted 11 persons.
He, however, disclosed that one of the abductees escaped and returned to the community on Monday, leaving 10 persons still in captivity.
“The bandits came into the village around 10 pm on Sunday and started shooting. Because they have attacked us many times before, people began to run immediately they heard the gunshots,” Ezekiel said.
“They killed one person and abducted 11 others. By Monday, one of the kidnapped had managed to escape and return home. Those still in captivity include women and babies who are less than one year old.”
Ezekiel alleged that bandits had been terrorising communities in the area for over three years through repeated attacks, kidnappings and killings.
He said residents had repeatedly reported the attacks to the Kachia Local Government authorities, traditional rulers and security agencies, including requests for the establishment of a security checkpoint at Angwan Koro junction, which he claimed serves as a major route used by the attackers.
“For more than three years, we have been pleading for a checkpoint at the junction because that is the route the bandits use to access our communities. We have reported these incidents to the local government and traditional rulers, but there has been no response,” he said.
He further alleged that security agencies had often failed to respond promptly to distress calls during attacks.
The latest attack has renewed calls for increased security presence in communities across Southern Kaduna, where residents have continued to express concerns over persistent incidents of banditry and kidnapping.
