At least six persons have been confirmed dead and about 20 others abducted after suspected bandits, reportedly among those described as “repentant,” launched a fresh attack on farmers in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The attack, which occurred at about 11am on Monday, was carried out at Layin Danauta village, where the armed men stormed farmlands and opened fire on farmers working in the area, according to community sources.
Residents said the assailants operated in a coordinated, guerrilla-style manner, shooting sporadically as they advanced into the farms, leaving several people dead and others injured in the process.
Preliminary accounts from local sources indicated that about seven women and 15 men were taken away during the raid, though the exact number of abducted persons remains unconfirmed.
By late Monday night, residents and local vigilante groups had reportedly recovered six bodies from the scene, while search-and-rescue efforts were still ongoing for those missing.
“There are fears that the death toll may rise because many victims are still unaccounted for,” a community source said.
The latest bloodshed has further heightened tension in the troubled area, where residents have repeatedly expressed concern over the controversial reintegration of so-called “repentant” bandits, a policy many locals say has failed to guarantee safety.
The incident also comes days after violent protests erupted in Birnin Gwari town over persistent insecurity, following the killing of a commercial driver, Ibrahim Adamu, and the abduction of farmers along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway.
Adamu, said to be the grandson of a traditional ruler in the Birnin Gwari Emirate, was reportedly killed by suspected bandits, sparking outrage among residents and leading to street protests by angry youths.
The protest had briefly disrupted calm in the area and led to the temporary displacement of some herders and other residents before security operatives intervened to restore order.
As of press time, authorities in Kaduna State had yet to issue an official response to the latest attack.
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