In a disturbing escalation of violence, suspected terrorists launched an audacious attack on the Buda community in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, resulting in the abduction of no fewer than 61 residents. The incident, which occurred on Monday night around 11:45 pm, has yet to receive formal acknowledgment from state or police authorities. However, firsthand accounts from the area’s residents have painted a harrowing picture of the events.
Dauda Kajuru, a local, recounted the terror that unfolded as the attackers, arriving in large numbers, began to shoot indiscriminately with the aim of kidnapping a significant number of people. The presence of soldiers stationed not more than 2 kilometers away from Kajuru reportedly played a crucial role in preventing an even larger scale abduction. “The bandits came intending to abduct scores of people that’ll outnumber that of school pupils in Kuriga Village of Chikun Local Government Area,” Kajuru explained, revealing that his own siblings were among those taken.
The community has noticed a marked increase in banditry activities following the reassignment of an Army Commander known locally as (Tega), who was credited with significantly reducing the threat in the area. “When Commander Tega was around, their activities stopped, and one could go for occasions without any fear of being kidnapped because he knows their terrain and the mode of their operations,” Kajuru lamented, pointing to a palpable sense of loss felt by the community in the wake of his departure.
Lawal Abdullahi, another resident who narrowly escaped the attack, confirmed the abduction of 61 individuals, including men, women, and children. Among the victims was a nursing mother with a two-week-old infant. “We have not heard from them since the incident happened on Monday,” Abdullahi expressed, voicing a desperate plea for governmental intervention to secure the swift and safe return of the abducted villagers.
The attack on Buda community underscores the ongoing security challenges facing parts of Kaduna State and the urgent need for effective measures to protect vulnerable communities from the scourge of terrorism and banditry.