Bandits Kill Nine Farmers, Abduct Several in Fresh Kaduna Attack

• At least nine farmers have been killed and several others abducted after armed bandits launched a deadly raid on a farming community in Kaduna State, reportedly in retaliation for the killing of one of their members.

At least nine farmers have been killed and several others abducted after armed bandits attacked a farming community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The deadly raid, which occurred on Saturday in the farmlands outside Kakangi village, is believed to have been carried out in retaliation for the killing of a bandit during a failed robbery attempt earlier that day.

According to a security report seen by AFP, the attackers stormed the fields and opened fire on farmers while they were working.

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

However, Kabiru Ishaq, a community leader in Birnin Gwari who visited the village after the attack, said the death toll had risen to 10.

The report indicated that the violence was sparked after farmers reportedly killed one of the bandits while resisting an attempted robbery.

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

The latest attack highlights the persistent insecurity facing farming communities across northwestern Nigeria, where armed gangs commonly referred to as bandits have continued to raid villages, kill residents, abduct victims for ransom and destroy property.

The attack also comes despite a November 2024 peace agreement brokered between local authorities and bandit groups in Birnin Gwari in an effort to end the violence.

Just last month, at least six farmers were killed and 20 others kidnapped during another attack on Danauta village in the same district, underscoring the growing security challenges confronting rural communities in Kaduna State.