Bandits kill two, abduct 26 others in Kaduna

Bandits have killed two residents, injured another and abducted 26 people during separate attacks on communities in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KadVS) disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Shehu, who said the attacks occurred in Tunburku, Tudun Amada and Kallon Kura communities in the local government area. Blueprint reports

According to Shehu, the most serious attacks occurred in the early hours of Monday when the bandits invaded Tunburku in Kidandan District and Tudun Amada in Kadage District almost simultaneously.

Two killed, 26 abducted

Shehu said two residents, identified as Alhaji Surajo and Alhaji Ado, were killed when the attackers invaded Tunburku.

In the neighbouring Tudun Amada community, the assailants reportedly abducted 26 residents during the attack, leaving families and the wider community in distress.

Another resident, Ayyuba Usman, was also injured during the attacks, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Monday.

The simultaneous nature of the attacks has raised fresh concerns over the security situation in parts of Giwa, an area that has repeatedly come under pressure from armed groups operating across several communities in the wider Kaduna region.

The latest incidents have once again exposed the vulnerability of rural communities, particularly during the night when residents are often left with limited options to respond to armed attacks.

Cattle rustled in separate attacks

Shehu further disclosed that the bandits carried out cattle-rustling operations in other communities within Giwa Local Government Area.

In one of the incidents, the assailants invaded Kura in Danmahawayi District at about 9 p.m. on Saturday and allegedly rustled cattle belonging to residents.

The initial report put the number of cattle stolen at between 15 and 17, although Shehu said efforts were still ongoing to establish the actual number taken by the attackers.

The bandits also invaded Kallon Kura, another community in Danmahawayi District, during the night, where they reportedly rustled cattle before security personnel mobilised to the area.

Security personnel engage bandits

Following intelligence on the movement of the bandits and the stolen cattle, personnel of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service mobilised to track the attackers and recover the animals.

The operatives reportedly engaged the bandits in a gun battle during the operation, forcing the attackers to retreat and abandon the cattle before fleeing the area.

The security personnel subsequently recovered 19 cattle from the bandits at about midnight on Saturday, September 5, according to a security source who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The recovery operation was conducted under the supervision of the KadVS Sector Coordinator in Giwa Local Government Area, who personally led the personnel during the exercise.

The recovery of the cattle followed the intelligence gathered on the movement of the attackers and their route after the animals were allegedly taken from residents.

Police yet to provide details

Efforts to obtain further details from the police were ongoing as of the time of filing the report.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Command, DSP Mansur Hassan, when contacted, said he would call back after obtaining further clarification on the reported attacks.

However, as of the time of filing, Hassan had not returned the call with further details on the incidents.

The latest attacks add to the growing security concerns confronting communities in Giwa Local Government Area, where residents have continued to face threats from armed groups, including attacks, abductions and livestock theft.

For the affected communities, the immediate concern remains the safety of residents and the recovery of those abducted, while security agencies and local vigilance structures are expected to intensify efforts to track the attackers and prevent further incursions.

The Kaduna State Vigilance Service said its personnel would continue to respond to intelligence and security threats within their areas of responsibility, with the recovery of the 19 cattle highlighting the role of local security structures in responding to attacks in remote communities.