Repentant bandits kill district head’s grandson, abduct nine in Kaduna

Armed men believed to be ‘repentant’ bandits on Thursday killed commercial driver Mallam Ibrahim Adamu and abducted nine other persons in two separate incidents along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road and in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Mallam Ibrahim Adamu, grandson of one of the District Heads of the Birnin Gwari Emirate, was shot dead at Kwanan Giginya along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway when the attackers opened fire on his commercial vehicle. The assailants killed him on the spot and abducted about five passengers from the scene.

In a separate assault in the Kurgi area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, four farmers were kidnapped while working on their farms.

The victims were carrying out routine agricultural activities when the gunmen struck and whisked them away to an unknown destination.

These twin Kaduna bandit attacks have heightened concerns over persistent insecurity along this critical corridor, which has suffered repeated assaults despite previous peace agreements with armed groups.

Residents report that such violence continues to disrupt farming activities, economic movement and daily life in rural communities.

A family source confirmed the identity of Mallam Ibrahim Adamu and expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “He was a hardworking man supporting his extended family. This kind of killing is devastating for everyone in the community,” the relative told reporters.

Community members have alleged that armed groups routinely seize motorcycles, phones, money and other valuables during these operations, with many incidents going underreported.

They have appealed to security agencies to intensify patrols along the highway and strengthen presence in vulnerable farming areas.

This latest outbreak of violence underscores the challenges facing Kaduna State, where banditry has long plagued residents despite occasional claims of successful negotiations and surrenders by militant groups.

The incidents come amid broader national efforts to tackle insecurity through military operations and community dialogue.

Local leaders urged swift action to rescue the abducted victims and prevent further loss of life, emphasising the need for sustained security measures to restore confidence and enable normal economic activities to resume.