Kaduna: Community leader’s son, brother abducted as bandits return to Jere

Bandits last Thursday invaded the house of Mai Anguwar Gadan-Azara in Kachia LGA of Kaduna state, Alhaji Ismaila Ayuba, and abducted his younger brother, Aliyu Ayuba, his eldest son, Hamisu Ismaila and a 3 year old boy identified as Haruna. According to the residents, the bandits wielding sophisticated weapons in their large numbers invaded the […]

Bandits last Thursday invaded the house of Mai Anguwar Gadan-Azara in Kachia LGA of Kaduna state, Alhaji Ismaila Ayuba, and abducted his younger brother, Aliyu Ayuba, his eldest son, Hamisu Ismaila and a 3 year old boy identified as Haruna.

According to the residents, the bandits wielding sophisticated weapons in their large numbers invaded the community leader’s house around 9:38 pm on Thursday, and whisked away the victims amid sporadic shootings.

The resident also disclosed that the bandits on Friday night invaded a fulani settlement at Yelwa village near Jere town and whisked away three herders including a female adult.

Residents and community leaders have expressed grave concern over the recent resurgence of banditry and cattle rustling in several rural communities across the Kachia and Kagarko Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State.

At least, 22 communities in the two LGAs were said to have been attacked between November 13, 2025 and now.

Our correspondent reports that most of the affected communities are situated near Jere, a strategic town located along the busy Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Communities reportedly hit by this recent wave of violence include Azara, Sabon-Kurutu, Gidan-Gwomna, Chigulum, Arikon, Angwan Bawa, Gidan Maude, Kadara, Kohoto, Gwara, Gidan Rabo, Anguwar Warma, Impi, Tudun-Tarma, Gidan-Uji, Tudun-Tsakuwa, Tudun-Wada, Mai-Iddo, Gidan-Inuwa, Saka-Rana, Sabon-Gida, and Kohoto.

Timeline of some of recent attacks

The violence has escalated significantly over the past few weeks:

• November 13, 2025: Armed men invaded Arikon village in Kachia LGA, shooting Kefas Bala and Samuel Monday. They abducted a herder and rustled 230 cows belonging to Alhaji Salisu Duroje.
• November 15, 2025: Bandits abducted Rev. Bobbi Paschal Markus, the Parish Priest of Saint Stephen Parish in Kushe Gudu, Kagarko LGA. A villager, Emmanuel Yaro, was shot dead during the invasion.
• November 20, 2025: Bandits wielding sophisticated weapons invaded multiple communities, including Arikon, Kaura, and Kushe-Makaranta. Suleiman Aliyu (a herder) and Gideon Yero Markus (a vigilante) were killed, while 11 others were abducted.
• December 16, 2025: Two persons, Ali Yusuf and Samuel Ayuba, were shot and injured during an attack on Azara village.
• January 5, 2026: In Kohoto village near Janjala, a woman identified as Sahura Adamu was abducted alongside her four children just one day after being discharged from the hospital.
• Recent Days: Reports indicate that bandits returned to the Azara community, abducting several more locals.

We can no longer sleep, go to farm- Residents

Residents of the affected areas, who are primarily agrarians have lamented that the insecurity has paralyzed socioeconomic activities.

Many dry-season farmers have abandoned their lands for fear of being kidnapped.

Mr. Michael Bawa, a resident of Azara, noted that attacks often occur in broad daylight.

“Just two weeks ago in Azara, four farmers were abducted at 4:12 pm. These criminals came through the bush path, shooting into the air, and whisked them away,” Bawa said.

Malam Saisu Suleiman, a member of the Kasangwai community in Kagarko LGA, stated that bandit activity—which spiked in late November last year—has prevented many farmers from accessing their lands due to the fear of abduction.

He recalled an incident in November where four farmers were kidnapped from their farmland.

He noted that it took the timely intervention of local vigilantes, who stormed the forest, to rescue the victims.

“Aside from that, Kasangwai witnessed three other cases of abduction between October and November. This has forced farmers to stay away from their fields, except for those who move in large, organized groups,” Suleiman said.

A resident of Sabon-Kurutu, James Kaura, added that villagers are now “living in fear” due to incessant attacks.

“Just this past December, three people returning from the Katari market on a motorcycle were abducted by bandits,” he said.

Kaura noted that bandits often move freely around the Kurutu, Bijimi, and Sabon-Kurutu communities in broad daylight without being challenged by security forces. He urged the state government to collaborate with relevant security agencies and vigilantes to checkmate these activities.

Similarly, Mr. Irimiya Danladi, a resident of the Kudiri community, observed that bandits are increasingly targeting ginger farmers who cultivate large acreages.

He recalled an incident where two farmers, identified as John Bulus and Abdullahi Garba, were snatched from their fields while harvesting ginger.

Danladi said the victims were only released after their families struggled to pay a ransom.

“As I am talking to you, there are people who simply cannot go to their farms anymore because of the fear of being abducted,” Danladi added.

Another resident, Shehu Bala of Arikon, highlighted the lack of security response: “We received a signal from an informant and alerted the security operatives in Kagarko town, but they could not respond.

‘’Many dry season farmers in most of these villages are now afraid to go to their farms. It is becoming scary,’’ he said.

Strategic hideouts, ‘lakurawa’ ties

A community leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity for security reasons, revealed that bandits have established permanent camps in Ampu, Awom, and Arikon.

He noted that the criminals utilize the Gurara Dam (Hayin Dam) as a strategic crossing point to escape with rustled cattle.

“Residents only get a sigh of relief during the rainy season when the water level of the Gurara Dam rises, making it difficult for the bandits to cross with stolen cows,” the leader explained.

He further claimed that some bandits have joined forces with Lakurawa terrorists.

He these groups reportedly utilize a special camp in the Hayin Dam forest and allegedly sell rustled cattle at the Katari market. Another camp is reportedly located behind the Jere rocky hill, added.

Calls for intervention

Community leaders are calling for synergy between the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration, as some of these communities border the Bwari Area Council in the FCT.

They emphasized that local vigilantes are currently overwhelmed and lack the sophisticated weaponry needed to engage the terrorists.

“We need joint patrols and air surveillance to checkmate these activities,” one leader, who craved anonymity for security reason, pleaded.

A resident, who simply gave his name as Danladi, called on the state government to liaise with top security officials to “nip the situation in the bud” so that residents and neighboring villages can find a sigh of relief.

When our reporter reached out to the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, SAN, via phone for reaction, there was no response.

The commissioner later sent a text message that read, ‘Please text me.’

The reporter subsequently sent an SMS and a WhatsApp message as directed; however, as at the time of filing this report, he had yet to reply to the text.”

Also, the state Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, did not pick calls nor respond to a text message sent to him as at the time of filling the report.

The spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Hassan Mansur, did not respond to calls and text messages regarding the deteriorating security situation in the axis.

However, it would be recalled that the FCT Commissioner of Police and his Kaduna State counterpart conducted a joint patrol in December along the Bwari-Jere-Kaduna highway, which serves as a vital link for the axis.”

By Abubakar Sadiq Isah

 

Bandits last Thursday invaded the house of Mai Anguwar Gadan-Azara in Kachia LGA of Kaduna state, Alhaji Ismaila Ayuba, and abducted his younger brother, Aliyu Ayuba, his eldest son, Hamisu Ismaila and a 3 year old boy identified as Haruna.

According to the residents, the bandits wielding sophisticated weapons in their large numbers invaded the community leader’s house around 9:38 pm on Thursday, and whisked away the victims amid sporadic shootings.

The resident also disclosed that the bandits on Friday night invaded a fulani settlement at Yelwa village near Jere town and whisked away three herders including a female adult.

Residents and community leaders have expressed grave concern over the recent resurgence of banditry and cattle rustling in several rural communities across the Kachia and Kagarko Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State.

At least, 22 communities in the two LGAs were said to have been attacked between November 13, 2025 and now.

Our correspondent reports that most of the affected communities are situated near Jere, a strategic town located along the busy Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Communities reportedly hit by this recent wave of violence include Azara, Sabon-Kurutu, Gidan-Gwomna, Chigulum, Arikon, Angwan Bawa, Gidan Maude, Kadara, Kohoto, Gwara, Gidan Rabo, Anguwar Warma, Impi, Tudun-Tarma, Gidan-Uji, Tudun-Tsakuwa, Tudun-Wada, Mai-Iddo, Gidan-Inuwa, Saka-Rana, Sabon-Gida, and Kohoto.

Timeline of some of recent attacks

The violence has escalated significantly over the past few weeks:

• November 13, 2025: Armed men invaded Arikon village in Kachia LGA, shooting Kefas Bala and Samuel Monday. They abducted a herder and rustled 230 cows belonging to Alhaji Salisu Duroje.
• November 15, 2025: Bandits abducted Rev. Bobbi Paschal Markus, the Parish Priest of Saint Stephen Parish in Kushe Gudu, Kagarko LGA. A villager, Emmanuel Yaro, was shot dead during the invasion.
• November 20, 2025: Bandits wielding sophisticated weapons invaded multiple communities, including Arikon, Kaura, and Kushe-Makaranta. Suleiman Aliyu (a herder) and Gideon Yero Markus (a vigilante) were killed, while 11 others were abducted.
• December 16, 2025: Two persons, Ali Yusuf and Samuel Ayuba, were shot and injured during an attack on Azara village.
• January 5, 2026: In Kohoto village near Janjala, a woman identified as Sahura Adamu was abducted alongside her four children just one day after being discharged from the hospital.
• Recent Days: Reports indicate that bandits returned to the Azara community, abducting several more locals.

We can no longer sleep, go to farm- Residents

Residents of the affected areas, who are primarily agrarians have lamented that the insecurity has paralyzed socioeconomic activities.

Many dry-season farmers have abandoned their lands for fear of being kidnapped.

Mr. Michael Bawa, a resident of Azara, noted that attacks often occur in broad daylight.

“Just two weeks ago in Azara, four farmers were abducted at 4:12 pm. These criminals came through the bush path, shooting into the air, and whisked them away,” Bawa said.

Malam Saisu Suleiman, a member of the Kasangwai community in Kagarko LGA, stated that bandit activity—which spiked in late November last year—has prevented many farmers from accessing their lands due to the fear of abduction.

He recalled an incident in November where four farmers were kidnapped from their farmland.

He noted that it took the timely intervention of local vigilantes, who stormed the forest, to rescue the victims.

“Aside from that, Kasangwai witnessed three other cases of abduction between October and November. This has forced farmers to stay away from their fields, except for those who move in large, organized groups,” Suleiman said.

A resident of Sabon-Kurutu, James Kaura, added that villagers are now “living in fear” due to incessant attacks.

“Just this past December, three people returning from the Katari market on a motorcycle were abducted by bandits,” he said.

Kaura noted that bandits often move freely around the Kurutu, Bijimi, and Sabon-Kurutu communities in broad daylight without being challenged by security forces. He urged the state government to collaborate with relevant security agencies and vigilantes to checkmate these activities.

Similarly, Mr. Irimiya Danladi, a resident of the Kudiri community, observed that bandits are increasingly targeting ginger farmers who cultivate large acreages.

He recalled an incident where two farmers, identified as John Bulus and Abdullahi Garba, were snatched from their fields while harvesting ginger.

Danladi said the victims were only released after their families struggled to pay a ransom.

“As I am talking to you, there are people who simply cannot go to their farms anymore because of the fear of being abducted,” Danladi added.

Another resident, Shehu Bala of Arikon, highlighted the lack of security response: “We received a signal from an informant and alerted the security operatives in Kagarko town, but they could not respond.

‘’Many dry season farmers in most of these villages are now afraid to go to their farms. It is becoming scary,’’ he said.

Strategic hideouts, ‘lakurawa’ ties

A community leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity for security reasons, revealed that bandits have established permanent camps in Ampu, Awom, and Arikon.

He noted that the criminals utilize the Gurara Dam (Hayin Dam) as a strategic crossing point to escape with rustled cattle.

“Residents only get a sigh of relief during the rainy season when the water level of the Gurara Dam rises, making it difficult for the bandits to cross with stolen cows,” the leader explained.

He further claimed that some bandits have joined forces with Lakurawa terrorists.

He these groups reportedly utilize a special camp in the Hayin Dam forest and allegedly sell rustled cattle at the Katari market. Another camp is reportedly located behind the Jere rocky hill, added.

Calls for intervention

Community leaders are calling for synergy between the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration, as some of these communities border the Bwari Area Council in the FCT.

They emphasized that local vigilantes are currently overwhelmed and lack the sophisticated weaponry needed to engage the terrorists.

“We need joint patrols and air surveillance to checkmate these activities,” one leader, who craved anonymity for security reason, pleaded.

A resident, who simply gave his name as Danladi, called on the state government to liaise with top security officials to “nip the situation in the bud” so that residents and neighboring villages can find a sigh of relief.

When our reporter reached out to the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, SAN, via phone for reaction, there was no response.

The commissioner later sent a text message that read, ‘Please text me.’

The reporter subsequently sent an SMS and a WhatsApp message as directed; however, as at the time of filing this report, he had yet to reply to the text.”

Also, the state Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, did not pick calls nor respond to a text message sent to him as at the time of filling the report.

The spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Hassan Mansur, did not respond to calls and text messages regarding the deteriorating security situation in the axis.

However, it would be recalled that the FCT Commissioner of Police and his Kaduna State counterpart conducted a joint patrol in December along the Bwari-Jere-Kaduna highway, which serves as a vital link for the axis.”