Nine farmers killed, several others kidnapped in Kaduna bandit raid

At least nine farmers have been killed, and several others kidnapped following a bandit attack on a farming community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The attack occurred in Kakangi village, where armed assailants reportedly stormed farmlands and opened fire on farmers working on their fields.

The incident was detailed in a security report prepared for the United Nations and seen by AFP on Sunday, while a local community source also confirmed the attack.

The latest assault adds to a series of violent attacks targeting farming communities across northwestern Nigeria, where criminal gangs have continued to carry out killings, kidnappings, and other violent crimes despite ongoing security operations.

The attack comes several weeks into the annual rainy season, a period during which many rural residents return to their farms for cultivation.

During this period, armed groups comprising jihadists and criminal gangs, including kidnappers seeking ransom and cattle rustlers commonly referred to as bandits, have reportedly intensified attacks on farming communities across northern and central Nigeria.

According to reports, the groups frequently target villages that fail to pay levies imposed by the criminal gangs, with residents often facing violent reprisals that include killings, kidnappings, looting of property, and destruction of homes.

Kaduna State remains one of the States most affected by the activities of these armed groups.

According to the security report, the attackers invaded the farmlands outside Kakangi village on Saturday and began shooting at farmers as they carried out their farming activities.

The assault resulted in multiple fatalities, while several other persons were reportedly abducted by the gunmen during the attack.

The report stated that emergency responses were initiated after the incident, with local authorities and community members participating in efforts to recover victims and assess the extent of the damage.

The attack further disrupted farming activities in the area as residents fled for safety following the invasion by the armed men.

A community leader in Birnin Gwari, Kabiru Ishaq, who travelled to Kakangi village to condole with the affected families, confirmed that the attack claimed the lives of 10 people.

According to him, the violence was allegedly carried out in retaliation for the killing of a suspected bandit during a failed robbery attempt earlier on the same day.

The security report also cited the same motive, stating that one of the attackers had been killed by farmers during an attempted robbery before members of the criminal group returned to launch a larger assault against the farming community.

The reprisal attack reportedly led to additional casualties and the abduction of several residents.

The latest attack is another indication of the persistent insecurity affecting Birnin Gwari Local Government Area despite efforts aimed at restoring peace.

Reports indicated that attacks on farming communities in the agrarian district have continued even after a peace agreement brokered by local authorities between community representatives and bandits in November 2024.

Residents have continued to face threats from armed groups operating within the area, with farming activities repeatedly disrupted by violence.

Just last month, at least six farmers were reportedly killed while 20 others were kidnapped during a similar attack on Danauta village in the same district, according to local sources.

“Nine bodies have been recovered so far, with six of the victims identified by local authorities,” the report said.

The bandit’s accomplice “returned with reinforcements and launched a retaliatory assault”, the report said.