Residents of Babban Saura (PW) community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were thrown into grief and fear after suspected bandits invaded three houses in the early hours of Thursday, killing a resident and initially abducting nine people.
The attack occurred around 1am, when most residents were inside their homes. The assailants moved from one house to another before fleeing with several victims, leaving one family mourning and others waiting anxiously for the return of their loved ones.
A resident identified as Sikiru was killed after reportedly attempting to resist the attackers when they entered his home.
According to accounts from the community, the assailants first invaded the residence of an elderly man, where they abducted two of his children. They then moved to Sikiru’s compound, broke through the fence and gained access to the house.
The attackers reportedly entered the parlour, where Sikiru confronted them and struggled with some of the assailants.
The confrontation ended tragically. Sikiru was shot and killed, after which the attackers took his wife and two children.
The gunmen then moved to a neighbouring residence, where they abducted a woman identified as Maman Mubarak and her four children.
The situation changed during the security response that followed.
Usman Adamu, commander of the local vigilantes, said the group received a distress call about the attack and immediately alerted soldiers. The soldiers joined the vigilantes in pursuing the fleeing attackers.
The security team traced the assailants towards the Eastern Bypass area, where they succeeded in rescuing Mubarak.
However, her four children remained in captivity.
Adamu said the security personnel also attempted to rescue the other abducted victims, but the attackers managed to escape with them. Efforts to locate and secure the release of those still being held were continuing at the time of the reports.
The figure of nine is therefore important to the account of the incident. Nine people were initially taken from the community, but the subsequent rescue of Mubarak reduced the number of people still in captivity. Her four children were among those who remained with the attackers.
The attack affected three separate households and left families dealing with both loss and uncertainty. Sikiru’s wife and two children were among those taken, while the elderly resident’s two children were also abducted.
Another resident, identified as Anas, said Sikiru had contacted him after the attackers entered the community.
By the time people gathered at Sikiru’s residence, the reality of the attack had begun to sink in. Sympathisers visited the home as residents expressed concern about the safety of their community and the fate of those still missing.
The incident has further heightened concerns about insecurity in communities around Chikun Local Government Area.
It came only days after another suspected bandit attack in nearby Kadaure community, where a man was reportedly killed and cattle were rustled. The proximity of the incidents has added to residents’ concerns about the security situation in the area.
The latest attack also highlights the difficult circumstances faced by communities that often depend on local vigilantes and security forces for immediate responses when armed groups invade their neighbourhoods.
In Babban Saura, the response by vigilantes and soldiers resulted in the rescue of one adult victim, but several others remained in captivity after the attackers escaped.
As of the time the reports were filed, there was no response from the Kaduna State Police Command. Its Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, could not be reached by phone and had not responded to a text message seeking comment.
The identities of most of the abducted victims were not publicly disclosed, making it difficult to establish further details about their condition.
For the families affected, however, the consequences are immediate. One household is mourning Sikiru, while several others are waiting for the safe return of their relatives, including children who were taken during the overnight assault.
The Babban Saura attack has consequently left more than a security headline behind. It has separated families, claimed a life and placed several people in captivity, while the community waits for the security operation to bring those abducted back home.
