At least nine farmers have been killed after armed bandits stormed farmlands in Kujijiro, a farming community in Kuyello District of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attack, which occurred on Monday, has once again raised concerns over the worsening security situation in one of Kaduna’s major agricultural zones.
Residents said the victims were working on their farms when heavily armed assailants invaded the area and opened fire indiscriminately.
Confirming the incident, security expert and community leader, Ishaq Kasai, said the attackers struck while the farmers were carrying out routine farming activities.
“I can confirm that the attack happened today. Nine farmers were killed while working on their farms,” Kasai said.
He added that several other farmers were still missing as of Monday evening, raising fears that the death toll could rise.
Kasai, a former chairman of the Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, declined to disclose the identities of the victims, citing security concerns.
Neither the police nor other security agencies had issued an official statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.
The latest killings come despite efforts by authorities to maintain a fragile peace between farming communities and armed groups operating in the area.
Birnin Gwari, widely regarded as one of Kaduna State’s key food-producing regions, has witnessed a renewed wave of violent attacks in recent months.
With the farming season now in full swing, many residents say they are increasingly fearful of going to their farms, worried that they could become the next targets of armed gangs.
The attack has renewed concerns among community leaders, who warn that persistent assaults on farmers could further threaten food production and worsen food insecurity across the region.
For many farmers, the choice has become increasingly difficult risk their lives to cultivate their crops or abandon their farms and face economic hardship.
