Suspected bandits have killed a resident and abducted nine people, including his wife and two children, in the Babban Saura community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident occurred in the early hours on Thursday, when the attackers reportedly invaded three houses in the community.
A community source told journalists that the attackers first invaded the residence of an elderly man and abducted two of his children.
He said the assailants later proceeded to the residence of the man identified as Sikiru, where they broke through the fence and gained entry into the compound.
According to him, Sikiru tried to resist the attackers when they entered his parlour and struggled with some of them, but the bandits eventually shot and killed him before abducting his wife and two children.
He added that the attackers also invaded a neighbouring house, where they abducted a woman and her four children.
The woman, identified as Maman Mubarak, was later rescued by soldiers and local vigilantes, while her four children remained in captivity.
The commander of the local vigilantes, Usman Adamu, confirmed the incident to journalists, saying nine people were initially abducted.
Adamu said the vigilantes received a distress call about the attack and immediately alerted soldiers, who joined them in pursuing the bandits.
“We received a distress call that bandits had entered Babban Saura PW, and so we informed soldiers who joined us.
“We traced them to the Eastern Bypass area and succeeded in rescuing a woman, Maman Mubarak, whose four children were among those kidnapped,” he said.
Adamu said the security personnel made efforts to rescue the other victims, but the attackers escaped with them.
Another resident, who identified himself as Anas, said Sikiru had called him after the attackers stormed the community.
A correspondent visited the community and observed that sympathisers had gathered at the deceased’s residence, while residents expressed concern over the security situation.
The attack came a few days after suspected bandits invaded a nearby Kadaure community, where a man was reportedly killed and cows were rustled.
The Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansur Hassan, could not be reached for comment.
