Suspected bandits have killed a man identified as Sikiru and abducted his wife, two children and eight other residents during a midnight attack on Babban Saura community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attack reportedly occurred around 1am on Thursday, sending residents into panic as the assailants invaded at least three houses and abducted several people.
A community source said the attackers first stormed the residence of an elderly man, where they abducted two of his children before moving to Sikiru’s house.
According to the source, the bandits broke through the fence of Sikiru’s compound and gained access to the building before proceeding to the parlour.
Sikiru reportedly resisted the attackers and engaged some of them in a struggle but was eventually overpowered and killed.
His wife and two children were subsequently taken away by the assailants.
The bandits also invaded a neighbouring residence, where they abducted a woman and her four children.
The woman was later rescued by soldiers and local vigilantes, while her four children remained in captivity.
The commander of the local vigilantes, Usman Adamu, confirmed the incident, saying nine people were initially abducted.
Adamu said the vigilantes received a distress call about the attack and immediately alerted soldiers, who joined them in pursuing the assailants.
He said the security personnel traced the attackers to the Eastern Bypass area, where they rescued the woman identified as Maman Mubarak.
He added that efforts to rescue the other victims were unsuccessful as the bandits escaped with them.
“We made efforts to rescue the other victims, but the bandits succeeded in escaping with them. We are still concerned about the safety of those abducted,” Adamu said.
A neighbour of the deceased, who identified himself as Anas, said Sikiru contacted him after the attackers entered the community.
“He called me after they entered the community. We were all worried because we could hear that the attackers were moving from one house to another,” he said.
Sympathisers later gathered at Sikiru’s residence as residents expressed concern over the security situation in the community.
The latest incident occurred barely days after suspected bandits reportedly invaded Kadaure community in the area, killing a man and rustling his cattle.
The attacks have heightened concerns among residents over the safety of communities in Chikun Local Government Area.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, could not be reached by telephone and had not responded to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
