Reports indicate that in Ungwan Dantata, Gefe community, Kallah Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, suspected bandits have inflicted tragedy by killing two individuals and abducting 18 others.
A resident revealed that on Monday morning at 10am, the bandits descended on the community, unleashing chaos with their gunfire.
The two individuals who lost their lives were Ezra Badama and Nagode Ibro. Among those kidnapped were Nehemiah Sukuni, Rebecca Nehemiah, Sadam Gane, Alice Sadam, Jashu’a Sukuni, Rhoda Isaac, Isaac Dako, Patience Godwin, A’ishatu Ezra, Damaris Nathan, Justina Afis, Gabriela Nathan, Daniela Nehemiah, Jackson Sadam, Amame Ezra, Benedict Monday, Enoch Yohanna, and Igwe Saleh.
A resident stated that since November last year, the community has faced relentless disturbances from terrorists, leading to significant ransom payments by its residents.
The source highlighted the urgent need for government assistance due to the community’s heavy reliance on farming. With the rainy season upon them, fear of abduction prevents residents from accessing their farms, forcing some to sell their harvest and even land to meet ransom demands.
Expressing the community’s plea for government intervention, including food and fertilizer support to alleviate hunger, the source emphasized the critical role of deploying security forces to restore residents’ confidence. Many victims reported trekking with terrorists through villages and major roads to remote locations, underscoring the necessity of strategic security deployments to counter the terror activities.
Families of the abducted individuals await further developments, while the two deceased, buried on May 7th, 2024, received Christian burial rites.
Efforts to reach Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, remained unanswered. Harisu Dari from Kajuru-Station Youths confirmed the incident, noting that in addition to the abductions, the kidnappers looted shops of food items and valuables.