By Daniel Edu
Terrorists have launched a devastating attack on the Banono Angwaku community situated in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The assault resulted in the tragic death of Christopher Zamani, with another individual injured and eight more abducted.
The attack, which occurred late Tuesday night, has intensified tensions in a region already plagued by a surge in kidnappings.
According to Dauda Manyu, a resident of the area, the victims of this recent onslaught include Kauna Fidelis, Tina Bulus, Alice Joshua, Sarah Micah, Janet Amos, Martha Peter, Rita Joefrey, and Favour Ado. Manyu further revealed that apart from the human toll, the attackers looted money, two motorcycles, food items, and other valuables before fleeing the village around 10 p.m.
This incident follows closely on the heels of the abduction of 61 villagers from the Buda community within the same local government area, highlighting a distressing trend of violence and abduction in Kajuru and Chikun LGAs over the past fortnight.
Manyu expressed concern over the lack of communication with the 61 previously abducted individuals, emphasizing the urgent need for effective responses to the kidnapping crisis. He underscored the potential contribution of local hunters, in collaboration with military forces, in addressing the situation by conducting thorough searches in forests and monitoring cattle routes commonly used by terrorists.
The community’s plea for action underscores the dire situation faced by local farmers, who are unable to access their lands due to the looming threat of terrorist activities. With the country already grappling with economic challenges, the inability to farm peacefully poses a significant risk of exacerbating hunger and instability in the region.
Calls for a more proactive and committed approach from the government and military were echoed, stressing the urgency of devising immediate strategies to counter the menace of terrorism and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the populace.
Efforts to reach the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, for comments were unsuccessful, as requests for a response via text message remained unanswered at the time of this report.
