Terrorists Kill Four, Abduct Multiple Travellers In Kaduna

In a tragic incident that underscores the persistent insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, terrorists have attacked and killed two officers of the Kaduna Vigilantes Service (KADVS) during an operation aimed at protecting farmers in the Tasake community of Ungwan Mayana, within the Gayam ward of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening, also claimed the lives of two local farmers and resulted in the abduction of several individuals, further highlighting the region’s ongoing struggle with violent extremism.

According to a resident of the area, Idris Khalid, the attackers launched their assault around 11:00 am, targeting the Tasake village in the Ungwan Mayana area. The KADVS officers, Yahaya Nasafe and Yakubu Umar, were part of a team dispatched to protect the community’s farmers, who are frequently targeted by bandits and terrorists seeking to extort or abduct them for ransom. While the vigilantes bravely engaged the attackers, killing some and forcing others to flee, they were ultimately ambushed, leading to the loss of their lives.

The same day, the attackers also struck at another location within the Gayam ward, where they intercepted a vehicle carrying Amina Adamu and her sick daughter, who were returning from Buruku after a medical trip. Khalid recounted that the vehicle was forced to a halt on a bridge near Kwaga village between 4:30 and 5:00 pm. The terrorists kidnapped Amina, her daughter, and an unspecified number of other passengers. Fortunately, other passengers in a separate vehicle managed to escape, avoiding abduction.

This tragic event has once again highlighted the severe security challenges faced by communities in Birnin Gwari LGA, an area that has become notorious for terrorist activities, including banditry and kidnappings. Khalid, speaking to City Round, lamented the recurring nature of these attacks and called for a more aggressive, coordinated military response to combat the terrorists who have entrenched themselves in the region’s forests and remote areas. He emphasized that without such an offensive, the cycle of violence and insecurity would likely continue unabated.

Khalid further suggested that the National Communications Commission (NCC) should play a more active role in monitoring the communication channels used by these terrorists. By tracking their locations and providing security agencies with accurate coordinates, Khalid believes that it would be possible to significantly disrupt the terrorists’ operations. He also called for the blocking of lines used by these criminals to prevent them from coordinating further attacks.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, for comments were unsuccessful, leaving many questions about the immediate response to this attack unanswered. The silence from official channels has only deepened the community’s frustration and fear, as residents continue to grapple with the reality of living under the constant threat of terrorist violence.

The Birnin Gwari region, like many others in northern Nigeria, remains a flashpoint of insecurity, with local communities often caught in the crossfire between security forces and armed groups. The latest incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained efforts to restore peace and security to these troubled areas.