Bandits gun down resident, abduct nine in Kaduna on Independence Day

Suspected bandits have killed a resident and abducted nine persons, including his wife and two children, in Babban Saura (PW) community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday when the attackers reportedly invaded three houses in the community.

The attack was carried out while Nigerians were celebrating the country’s 66th Independence Day.

A community source told NAN that the attackers first invaded the residence of an elderly man and abducted two of his children.

He said the assailants later proceeded to the residence of a man identified as Sikiru, where they broke through the fence and gained entry into the compound.

According to him, Sikiru attempted to resist the attackers when they entered his parlour and engaged some of them in a struggle.

The source said the bandits eventually shot and killed him before abducting his wife and two children.

He added that the attackers also invaded a neighbouring house, where they abducted a woman and her four children.

The woman, identified as Maman Mubarak, 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 to NAN, saying nine persons were initially abducted.

Adamu said the vigilantes received a distress call about the attack and immediately alerted soldiers, who joined them in pursuing the bandits.

“We received a distress call that bandits had entered Babban Saura PW, and so we informed soldiers who joined us.

“We traced them to the Eastern Bypass area and succeeded in rescuing a woman, Maman Mubarak, whose four children were among those kidnapped,” he said.

He said the security personnel made efforts to rescue the other victims, but the attackers escaped with them.

Another resident, who identified himself as Anas, said Sikiru had called him after the attackers stormed the community.