Attack in Kaduna: Two killed, 20 kidnapped

Two people have been killed and 20 others kidnapped after terrorists attacked the Akwando community around noon on Wednesday in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The news came from Joseph Ariko, the President of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association, and its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Manasseh Akwando, on Thursday. They expressed worry over ongoing killings, kidnappings and the displacement of people in Kuturmi communities.

The association condemned this latest attack, calling it another worrying sign of the ongoing security problems in the area.

They said, "This latest incident represents another deeply troubling development in the persistent security challenges confronting our communities. It is particularly distressing that the attack occurred while our people are still grappling with the consequences of the Easter Sunday attack on Ariko."

The association shared the names of the 20 people taken during the Akwando attack. They are Usman Galadima, La’a’zarus Genesis, Madalin Markus, Happy Stephen, Lovet Ishaya, Afiniki Irimeya, Amina Ahmadu, Miracle Genesis, Hellen Irimeya, Musa Genesis, Janet Irimeya, Gloria Markus, Zila Stephen, Alis Ahmadu, Haske Ahmadu, Great Isiac, Hanatu Irimeya, Desmon Ishaya, Siam Shagari and Nansy Genesis.

KUDA reminded everyone that the Easter Sunday attack on Ariko left five people dead at the scene, while another 17 later died in captivity. They also mentioned another attack on the Awon community, which led to the deaths of two people and the kidnapping of 11 others.

According to the association, five of those kidnapped were freed on November 3, 2026. But sadly, one died a day after being freed. Another person escaped, while five others died in captivity.

"The recurrence of attacks, killings, abductions and displacement across our communities has become an increasingly serious humanitarian and security concern," the statement said.

It continued that residents are living in fear and uncertainty. Families have been torn apart, livelihoods disrupted, farms left abandoned and ancestral homes exposed to constant insecurity.

The association also claimed that armed groups are preventing residents from accessing their lands and farms. They said these groups demand payments before allowing them to farm or harvest their crops.

They warned that such actions are serious threats to public security, the rule of law and the rights of the affected communities.

"No Nigerian citizen should be subjected to intimidation, extortion or unlawful restrictions by armed groups in accessing legitimate sources of livelihood or exercising lawful rights over their ancestral lands," KUDA stated.

They raised concerns about what they see as a pattern of targeted violence and systematic displacement of the Kuturmi people. But they stressed that these concerns are not accusations against anyone and called for fair and unbiased investigations.

"We emphasise that these concerns are not presented as concluded findings against any individual or group. Rather, they stress the urgent need for independent, impartial and thorough investigations by competent authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the attacks, identify any underlying patterns and determine the appropriate legal and security responses," the statement added.

KUDA urged the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government and Kachia Local Government Council to send well-equipped security personnel to Akwando, Ariko, Awon and other vulnerable areas.

They also called for coordinated efforts to ensure the safe release of the 20 people kidnapped in Akwando and others still held against their will. Other requests include setting up permanent security posts, regular patrols, early warning systems, prosecuting offenders and providing immediate help to affected families and displaced residents.

The association further asked for high-level talks between government officials and community representatives to evaluate the security situation and find long-term solutions.

"We wish to make it clear that the Kuturmi people are not demanding special privileges or preferential treatment. We are demanding the protection of our fundamental rights as Nigerian citizens, including the rights to life, dignity, personal security, freedom of movement and the peaceful enjoyment of our ancestral heritage," they said.

They added, "Our communities cannot continue to experience recurring attacks, lose their loved ones, endure the abduction of family members, abandon their farmlands and face uncertainty over the safety of their ancestral settlements."

The association called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff and other security agencies to act quickly on this urgent security and humanitarian issue.

They also reached out to traditional rulers, civil society groups, human rights organizations and humanitarian agencies to help tackle the worsening security situation.

"Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives, the victims who remain in captivity and all affected communities. We stand in solidarity with them and reiterate our demand for justice, effective protection and the safe return of all abducted persons," the statement concluded.

When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls or texts from our correspondent at the time of this report.