Bandits kill nine farmers, abduct several in fresh Kaduna attack

At least nine farmers have been killed and several others kidnapped after armed bandits attacked a farming community in Kaduna State, according to a security report seen by AFP and local sources.

The attack occurred on Saturday in Kakangi village, located in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, where the assailants reportedly stormed farmlands and opened fire on farmers working during the ongoing rainy season.

A security report prepared for the United Nations stated that the attackers invaded the farmlands outside Kakangi village and shot farmers while they were cultivating their fields.

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

The latest attack comes despite a peace agreement brokered by local authorities in November 2024 between communities in Birnin Gwari and armed groups operating in the area.

However, violence has continued unabated.

Community confirms casualties

A community leader in Birnin Gwari, Kabiru Ishaq, who visited the village to sympathise with residents, said the death toll stood at 10.

According to Mr Ishaq, the attack was a reprisal after farmers reportedly killed one of the bandits during an attempted robbery earlier on the same day.

The security report also attributed the attack to retaliation, stating that the slain bandit’s accomplice returned with reinforcements and launched the deadly assault.

Rising attacks on farming communities

Armed criminal gangs, locally referred to as bandits, have intensified attacks on farming communities across northern and central Nigeria since the onset of the rainy season.

The groups are known for attacking villages, killing residents, abducting victims for ransom, rustling cattle, looting homes and imposing illegal levies on farming communities.

Last month, at least six farmers were killed and 20 others abducted during another attack on Danauta village in the same district, raising fresh concerns over the worsening security situation and its impact on farming activities.

Kaduna State remains one of the worst-hit states affected by persistent banditry and rural violence.