Gunmen believed to be bandits have abducted the Chief Imam of Janjala Central Mosque, Malam Bello Abdullahi, during a coordinated night attack in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident, which occurred around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, also led to the abduction of a prominent Fulani leader, Alhaji Shehu Bello, and a woman, further deepening fear across the affected communities.
According to local sources, the attackers stormed several villages in quick succession, including Iddo, Gidan-Makeri, Kohoto and Janjala, creating widespread panic as residents fled their homes.
A community leader described the operation as deliberate and well-coordinated, noting that the gunmen arrived in large numbers and were heavily armed.
“They did not act randomly. Their first stop was the Chief Imam’s residence, and once he was taken, they moved straight to the Fulani leader’s house,” he said.
Moreover, the attackers reportedly rustled several cattle during the raid, compounding the losses suffered by villagers already grappling with insecurity.
In the aftermath, entire communities, particularly Kohoto, were virtually deserted, as families fled to Kagarko town and neighbouring Sabon-Wuse in search of safety.
Some residents reportedly spent the night hiding in nearby bushes before relocating.
“The fear was overwhelming,” another resident said. “Once the religious and traditional leaders were taken, people felt there was no protection left for anyone.”
Meanwhile, the abductions are said to have occurred shortly after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum allegedly issued by the bandits, demanding N6 million for the release of a woman and her four children kidnapped earlier.
Community leaders claimed the deadline passed without any visible rescue effort, a development they believe emboldened the attackers to return with renewed violence.
“We reached out repeatedly to security agencies, but help did not come,” a resident lamented. “Now our leaders are gone, and the communities feel completely exposed.”
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from security authorities regarding the latest abductions, while residents continue to call for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks in Kagarko and surrounding areas.