Chief Imam, 2 others abducted in Kaduna community

Bandits have reportedly abducted the Chief Imam of the Janjala Central Mosque, Malam Bello Abdullahi, a Fulani leader in the community, Alhaji Shehu Bello, and a woman in the Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State.

Our reporter had previously reported that bandits have, within the last few days, invaded several communities—including Iddo, Gidan-Makeri, Kohoto, and Janjala—abducting numerous residents and rustling cattle.

Following these incessant attacks, residents of Kohoto, a community neighboring Janjala, fled their homes on Saturday. This followed a seven-day ultimatum issued by bandits for the community to raise N6 million for the release of the abducted wife and four children of a local vigilante.

Confirming the latest incident via telephone on Wednesday, a community leader told our reporter that the bandits struck again on Tuesday around 9pm.

He said the gunmen whisked away the Chief Imam and the Fulani leader along with a woman.

The source added that the bandits, who arrived in large numbers wielding AK-47 rifles, first invaded the Chief Imam’s residence before proceeding to the home of the Fulani leader. The invasion has thrown the entire community into confusion, forcing several residents to flee.

“Even as I am talking to you right now, several people have fled their houses to Kagarko town, while others are in Sabon-Wuse staying with relatives,” he said.

The community leader expressed frustration over the repeated attacks, noting that he has sent several distress calls to security operatives without receiving a positive response.

“Our people are under siege. We have tried to reach out to the security operatives in Kagarko about the bandits attacking our people for over a week now, but nothing has been done,” he lamented.

A source at the Kagarko Emirate Council, who requested anonymity for security reasons, also confirmed the attacks.

He disclosed that the palace had reported the situation to the Kagarko Local Government Authority, highlighting the lack of a swift security response.

“It is distressing that for over a week, several communities under Kagarko have been under siege, and security operatives are not responding despite distress calls,” the source alleged, adding that some displaced persons from Kohoto and Janjala are currently taking refuge at the palace.

The palace stated that since the matter has been reported to the local government authority, it expects security forces to be deployed to pursue the bandits and restore normalcy to the displaced communities.

A police source in the area confirmed the latest attack but declined further comment, referring our reporter to the command’s headquarters in Kaduna.

As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Hassan Mansur, has yet to react to the incident.

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