Kaduna Bandit Attack: 15 Abducted, Three Injured
Fifteen residents, including a nursing mother and her two-month-old baby, were abducted, and three others were shot and injured after bandits attacked the Gidan-Tama community in the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Wednesday around 12:27 am.
A leader from the Gidan-Tama community, who requested anonymity, confirmed the mass kidnapping during a telephone interview on Thursday morning. The source detailed that a large contingent of bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the community under the cover of darkness, firing indiscriminately into the air.
Community Under Siege: A Night of Terror
Amidst the chaos of gunfire, the armed group systematically raided numerous homes. During this terrifying incursion, three adult males sustained gunshot wounds from stray bullets. The injured individuals were promptly transported to Kachia General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
The community leader further explained that the assailants abducted 13 villagers, alongside a nursing mother and her infant child, after ransacking various properties across the settlement. This incident marks another distressing chapter in the region’s ongoing struggle with insecurity.
Vigilante Efforts and Escalating Threats
Local vigilantes attempted to confront the bandits; however, they were quickly outmatched by the superior weaponry of the attackers. They were forced to retreat and seek cover to prevent a recurrence of the grim events that unfolded in the nearby Janjala community just days prior. The leader recounted, "Actually, some of the vigilantes tried to engage the bandits, but when they discovered the bandits’ guns were more sophisticated than their own, they were forced to run for cover to avoid a repeat of what happened in the neighboring Janjala community last Saturday."
This latest attack is the second in Gidan-Tama within a ten-day period, highlighting a disturbing escalation of criminal activities. Previously, six individuals working on Fadama farms in the area were abducted by bandits, underscoring the persistent threat faced by residents.
Security Response and Ongoing Search
A security source, who also remained anonymous, corroborated the details of the attack. They confirmed that operatives and vigilantes are currently conducting extensive search operations through the forests surrounding the Sabon-Kurutu axis in Kachia, with the aim of rescuing the abducted victims.
As of the time of reporting, DSP Hassan Mansur, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, had not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. This recent crime follows a similar pattern from last Saturday, when bandits invaded the neighbouring Janjala community in the Kagarko LGA, abducting a vigilante, his wife, and 12 other individuals.