Bandits abduct 26 residents in fresh attacks on Kaduna communities

Bandits have attacked Kurmin Sata and Udawa communities in Chikun LGA of Kaduna state, killing one person and abducting 26 others.

A member of the vigilante group in Kurmin Sata, who confirmed the incident, said the attack took place around 12:30 am on Saturday.

He said 20 people were initially abducted from the community but four of them escaped, leaving 16 others with the bandits.

The village head, some community leaders as well as women and children were among those abducted.

According to the vigilante member, one of the residents was hit by a bullet and killed on the spot after the bandits shot sporadically.

In Udawa community, the bandits were said to have abducted 10 farmers who were at work on their farms.

A resident of the community who pleaded anonymity said the incident happened on Friday afternoon.

He said the community had been under constant attack by bandits, adding that “going to the farm or going to fetch firewood is very risky now”.

The resident said the bandits are camped at the border between Niger and Kaduna states.

He said since the incident, nobody has gone to the farm for fear of being killed or abducted.

He added that residents of the community face imminent hunger if they can’t go to their farms.

Mohammad Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, did not respond to telephone calls when contacted.