By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Catholic Church official, Mr. Thomas Yahaya, has been abducted by suspected armed men in Magamia community, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in what residents say is another wave of fresh attacks in Southern Kaduna.
Yahaya, who is the younger brother of the Agwatyap III, the paramount ruler of Atyap Chiefdom, was abducted from his residence between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. on Wednesday. The incident reportedly occurred near a military post within the community.
Family sources told Daybreak Nigeria on Friday and Saturday that the abductors, believed to be armed Fulani militia, have demanded a ransom of N50 million. Mr. Katuka Mutua, a close relative, said he was informed of the abduction early Thursday.
“Just on Thursday morning, I received a call that my younger brother, Thomas Yahaya, the younger brother of Agwatyap III, was abducted between 11 and 12 a.m. on Wednesday,” Mutua said. “Some Fulani militia came, knocked on his door, and when he opened, they saw him and asked him to follow them.”
Mutua expressed concern over what he described as a lack of response from the nearby military post during the attack. “There is a military post very close to the house, but there was no response from their end,” he said.
He added that the victim’s wife was initially taken alongside him but was later released due to her medical condition. “When they started moving into the bush, they began shooting. They later told the wife to return home because she wasn’t physically okay.”
The family noted that this is not the first time the Agwatyap royal family has suffered such attacks. Mutua recalled a similar incident in November 2019 when another younger brother of the traditional ruler, Sadengi, was killed after going to the farm and failing to return.
“It’s almost four or five years now since that incident,” he said.
Yahaya, who is in his early forties, is a farmer and a dedicated member of the Catholic Church, where he serves as an official. Due to recurring attacks in the area, he had relocated to Zonkwa but returned home for the ongoing harvest season.
Residents of Magamia and surrounding communities continue to express fear over persistent insecurity, despite the presence of security personnel in the area.
As of press time, security agencies had not issued an official statement regarding the abduction.
