Two feared killed, 20 abducted in fresh Kaduna community attack
Two people were reportedly killed and 20 others allegedly abducted after suspected terrorists attacked Akwando community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Wednesday.
The attack, which the police have yet to confirm, reportedly occurred around noon. It was disclosed on Thursday by the President of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association, Dr Joseph Ariko, and its Publicity Secretary, Manasseh Samuel Akwando.
The association expressed concern over recurring killings and abductions in Kuturmi communities, saying the latest incident happened while residents were still struggling with the aftermath of an Easter Sunday attack on Ariko community.
It described the incident as “another deeply troubling development in the persistent security challenges confronting our communities”.
“It is particularly distressing that the attack occurred while our people are still grappling with the consequences of the Easter Sunday attack on Ariko,” the statement said.
KUDA released the names of the 20 people reportedly abducted during Wednesday’s attack.
They include Usman Galadima, La’a’zarus Genesis, Madalin Markus, Happy Stephen, Lovet Ishaya, Afiniki Irimeya, Amina Ahmadu, Miracle Genesis, Hellen Irimeya and Musa Genesis.
Others are Janet Irimeya, Gloria Markus, Zila Stephen, Alis Ahmadu, Haske Ahmadu, Great Isiac, Hanatu Irimeya, Desmon Ishaya, Siam Shagari and Nansy Genesis.
The association recalled that an Easter Sunday attack on Ariko reportedly killed five people at the scene, while another 17 victims later died in captivity.
It also raised concerns over an attack on Awon community, in which two people were reportedly killed and 11 others abducted.
According to the association, five of those abducted in Awon regained their freedom on November 3, 2026, but one died a day later. Another victim reportedly escaped, while five others died in captivity.
KUDA said the repeated attacks had caused fear and displacement, disrupted livelihoods and forced residents to abandon their farmlands.
It further alleged that armed groups had restricted residents’ access to ancestral lands and agricultural activities, including demanding payments or levies before they could cultivate their farms or harvest produce.
The association, however, said the allegations required independent investigation and should not be treated as established findings against any individual or group.
“We emphasise that these concerns are not presented as concluded findings against any individual or group.
“Rather, they underscore the urgent need for independent, impartial and thorough investigations by competent authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the attacks, identify any underlying patterns and determine the appropriate legal and security responses,” the statement said.
KUDA called on the Federal and Kaduna State governments, as well as the Kachia Local Government Council, to deploy adequately equipped security personnel to Akwando, Ariko, Awon and other vulnerable communities.
It also demanded coordinated operations to secure the release of the 20 people abducted in Akwando and others still being held captive.
Other demands include permanent security posts, regular patrols, early-warning mechanisms, prosecution of perpetrators and humanitarian assistance for affected families, survivors and displaced residents.
The association urged President Bola Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff to treat the situation as an urgent security and humanitarian concern.
“Our communities cannot continue to experience recurring attacks, lose their loved ones, endure the abduction of family members, abandon their farmlands and face uncertainty over the safety of their ancestral settlements,” it said.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
By Oluwafemi Shodipe.
