In a harrowing incident, bandits launched an audacious attack on the Dan-Honu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, resulting in the abduction of eight individuals, including a newlywed couple and the Imam of the community mosque, his wife, and three children, including a 10-month-old baby.
The horrifying episode unfolded around 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday night when approximately 10 armed bandits, brandishing AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, descended upon the community.
Cloaked in black attire, one of the assailants masked his identity as they executed their nefarious plan.
A source revealed that the bandits initiated their spree by targeting the Imam, Malam Suleiman, and his family, whom they encountered outside the community Juma’at Mosque.
Subsequently, they moved to a four-flat compound where they seized the newlywed couple.
The daring escape of a resident known as Alhaji Mohammed narrowly spared him from the clutches of the kidnappers.
The bandits, relentless in their pursuit, broke into his residence, forcing the couple out through a broken window.
Remarkably, the Imam, Malam Suleiman, and his neighbor, Malam Musa, managed to evade capture as they were being led out of the community into the bush.
In a similar stroke of luck, the new wife, recovering from recent surgery, was abandoned in the bush when she struggled to keep up with the pace of the bandits’ trek.
The bandits’ plan faced additional setbacks when Imam Suleiman’s wife and her infant were released in response to the baby’s cries, potentially exposing the criminals to nearby vigilantes around Kakura.
Despite these partial successes in thwarting the abductions, the bandits successfully seized Ibrahim, the newlywed husband, along with two of the Imam’s children (15-year-old Abba and his younger brother).
At the time of this report, contact with the family had not been established.
Imam Suleiman recounted the terrifying encounter, highlighting the weapons wielded by the bandits, ranging from AK-47 rifles with chains of bullets to axes, machetes, and sticks.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansur Hassan, acknowledged the incident, stating that the police are actively working to establish the accurate account of the distressing event.
As the affected community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic incident, the security agencies’ ongoing efforts to gather information and respond appropriately underscore the persistent challenges posed by banditry in the region.
The incident serves as a distressing reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive security measures to safeguard vulnerable communities and stem the tide of criminal activities in the area.
