By Chidimma Okwara,
Security concerns are mounting across Kaduna State following a spate of recent coordinated attacks by armed bandits that have resulted in multiple fatalities and a worrying number of abductions across rural communities. The recurrence of these attacks highlights the persistent security challenges facing the North West region of Nigeria.
Reports indicate that at least nine residents were killed in the latest round of incursions, with several others, including women and children, forcefully taken by the attackers. These criminal groups, locally referred to as “bandits,” often strike simultaneously across multiple villages, overwhelming local defense mechanisms and security response teams.
Local Government Areas (LGAs) such as Kajuru and Igabi have borne the brunt of the recent violence. These areas, which have historically been volatile, are seeing a resurgence of criminal activity. For instance, in one recent incident in Kajuru, bandits targeted churches, leading to three deaths and the abduction of around 30 people, including a pastor. Other communities, like Gwada in Igabi LGA, have also suffered mass kidnappings, underscoring the shift towards large-scale abductions for ransom.
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This pattern of violence has not only led to the loss of life and human dignity but has also severely impacted the agricultural base of these communities. Many residents, dependent on farming for their livelihoods, are now too afraid to access their fields, pushing the region closer to a significant humanitarian crisis.
The tactics of the criminal gangs are evolving. While violence remains rampant, the primary motivation appears to be financial gain through kidnapping for ransom. Criminal groups are increasingly turning to mass abductions, sometimes targeting dozens or even hundreds of people at once—including school children and worshippers—to maximize their leverage and profit.
Security reports consistently show that fatalities linked to these criminal gangs across the North West now surpass those tied to militant Islamist groups in the North East, making the phenomenon a national priority. Communities often feel abandoned, sometimes resorting to paying “protection taxes” to the bandits out of sheer desperation and loss of confidence in government intervention.
Stakeholders are urgently calling for a more decisive and proactive security strategy from government authorities. While localized efforts, such as the implementation of Early Warning Early Response (EWER) systems in some communities, have successfully thwarted attacks, a more robust, state-wide approach is needed.
The current security gaps are often attributed to the inadequate presence of security personnel in vast rural territories, a lack of sophisticated surveillance, and a tendency toward reactive rather than preventative measures. Sustained efforts in community engagement, intelligence gathering, and ensuring the swift delivery of justice for perpetrators remain critical to restoring peace and stability in the affected areas.
