In a shocking escalation of violence, armed bandits have abducted nine residents, including three children, from the Akwondo community in Kachia Local Government Area, just hours after murdering six villagers.
According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants returned to the community late Saturday night, around 10:12 pm, shortly after having attacked the village earlier.
The earlier raid left six men dead as they rested under a tree.
Garba Tanimu, a resident, described the latest attack: “The bandits broke into two homes, those of Muazu Shehu and Bala Ya’u, forcing six adult men and three children, aged between 12 and 15, into the bush.
“They carried AK-47 rifles and fired sporadically to scare anyone who tried to intervene.”
The victims were reportedly taken through the Maraban Wolijo route, which connects the village to Kachia town.
Tanimu explained that the attackers operated with confidence because the six young men who normally defended the villagers had been killed in the previous attack.
“Without them, the bandits had no one to stop them,” he said.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted the ongoing insecurity in Akwondo.
“Our community has been under siege since November. Families have abandoned farms and homes out of fear.
“The six men who usually protected us are gone, leaving everyone vulnerable,” he lamented.
Efforts to reach the abductors have so far been unsuccessful.
The community leader appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and restore safety to the area.
At the time of filing this report, ASP Hassan Mansur, spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, had not commented publicly.
However, a police source confirmed that officers are actively pursuing the bandits in the region.