At least 87 civilians have been kidnapped in fresh bandit attacks in Gangere and Aguna, in Kufana District of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The tragedy happened in the early hours of Monday, according to security sources.
Details of the incident remained sketchy but the victims were taken to an unknown destination.
A youth leader, Ben Yuhana, said “bandits entered Gangere and Aguna villages in Kufana District , Kufana Chiefdom, Kajuru LGA and kidnapped 87 persons between yesterday night and the early hours of today.”
A local of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, said the terrorists also broke into some shops and stole food items and other valuables, adding that they invaded the village around 10 pm.
The attack comes 48 hours after 15 women and a man were kidnapped in the Dogon-Noma community of the same local government.
Gunmen laid siege on Kajuru and Chikun LGAs in the past two weeks, kidnapping locals and raising tension in the state.
“As of the time I visited the community this morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers.
“The villagers are traumatized by the sad development. The government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists,” he said.
The state police spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, was yet to respond to calls or a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
The state government too was yet to make an official statement on the issue as the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, was yet to reply to a text message sent to him.