Kaduna:- Bandits Kidnap Fulani Leader, Chief Imam, Others.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline, Abuja
February 8, 2026.
Suspected bandits have again struck in Kaduna State, abducting a prominent Fulani leader, a Chief Imam, and other residents during coordinated attacks on several communities in Kagarko Local Government Area.
The victims were identified as Shehu Bello, a respected Fulani community leader, Chief Imam Bello Abdullahi, and a woman whose name could not be immediately confirmed. The attack occurred in Janjala village and surrounding settlements, sending shockwaves across the area.
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A senior security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident but declined to provide further details.
“Yes, the attack occurred, but please don’t mention my name. I can’t speak further on the issue,” the officer said.
A resident of the area, Usman Sani, told Democracy Newsline that the bandits invaded multiple villages simultaneously late Tuesday night, when residents were preparing to retire to their homes. According to Sani, the attackers moved swiftly from one community to another, abducting residents while many others escaped into nearby bushes and neighbouring villages in fear for their lives.
“They came at night and moved from village to village. People ran in different directions. Some were taken, many escaped, but nobody slept that night,” he said.
Sani added that following the attacks, Janjala, Akihito, Gidan Makeri, and other nearby communities were largely deserted, as residents fled en masse to safer neighbouring areas. He also disclosed that several cattle were rustled, further compounding the economic losses suffered by the affected communities, many of whom depend on livestock for survival.
The latest attack has heightened fear in Kagarko LGA, which has witnessed repeated security challenges linked to banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnappings for ransom over the years.
The incident comes barely weeks after Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, received worshippers abducted from Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area. The victims were kidnapped on January 18, 2026, when armed men stormed three churches during Sunday service, an attack that drew national condemnation before the captives were eventually released.
Pattern of Repeated Attacks in Southern Kaduna Axis
Security analysts note that the Kagarko–Kajuru–Birnin Gwari axis has remained a major flashpoint for bandit activity due to its vast forests and difficult terrain.
Similar incidents recorded in the area include:
March 2024: Bandits attacked communities in Kagarko and Kajuru LGAs, killing several residents and abducting others, forcing hundreds to flee their homes.
June 2023: Armed bandits kidnapped passengers along the Kagarko–Kachia road, a route frequently targeted for mass abductions.
April 2022: Over 50 villagers were abducted during coordinated night raids on communities in Birnin Gwari and Kagarko LGAs, prompting military operations in the area.
January 18, 2026: Gunmen abducted worshippers from three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru LGA, during Sunday service. The victims were later released and formally received by the state government.
Residents and community leaders have continued to appeal to security agencies to intensify patrols, dismantle bandit camps, and secure farmlands and highways, warning that repeated displacement could worsen humanitarian conditions and deepen mistrust among rural communities.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts were ongoing by security agencies to track the abductors and secure the release of the kidnapped victims.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 8TH 2026)
