Residents of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, North West Nigeria have raised alarm over escalating attacks by suspected bandits, killing over 50 people and about 1,000 abducted within a three-month period.
Speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Saturday, community leader, Reverend Musa Hassan Shadari, said the incidents occurred between October and December 2025, leaving dozens of families devastated and communities displaced.
He disclosed that about N300 million had been paid as ransom to secure the release of many victims, with funds reportedly sourced from relatives, sale of food reserves, and farmlands.
According to him, at least 17 abductees remain in captivity, with families still in contact with the kidnappers.
Shadari, who led a group of villagers on a protest to Kaduna metropolis, said no fewer than 39 villages across the Kauru-West axis had been affected by the wave of killings and kidnappings.
He noted that the affected communities comprised people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds, including Muslims, Christians, Hausa, and Fulani.
The protesters appealed to the state government, led by Governor Uba Sani, to deploy security personnel to the area, alleging that existing security responses had been inadequate.
“We are facing serious challenges from kidnappers who are driving us out of our homes and communities,” Shadari said. “We are begging the government to send soldiers to protect us.”
He further alleged that security operatives often responded briefly to distress calls but failed to maintain a sustained presence during attacks.
The community leader explained that the delay in speaking out was due to a lack of awareness on how to seek help, until concerned individuals encouraged them to engage the media.
Residents also expressed concern over what they described as the silence of political representatives from the area, noting that many villagers were unfamiliar with their elected officials.
Shadari added that while some victims had been buried, others were yet to receive proper burials due to the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
Several names of those reportedly killed were provided to journalists, including community members and religious leaders.
The villagers urged the Kaduna State Government to take immediate action to restore security and enable displaced residents to return to their homes.
