Residents Fear for Safety as Kidnappers Target Kaduna’s Millennium City Again

Residents of Millennium City, a suburb on the outskirts of Kaduna, are scared for their safety. This fear comes after several kidnappings and armed attacks in the area.

For many families, night has turned into a time of worry instead of rest. They now go to bed anxious, wondering if the noise of a passing vehicle or movement outside their gates means another attack.

The latest incident happened early Tuesday morning when armed men stormed Nuru Suraj Estate and kidnapped about six people, as reported by residents.

Kabiru Alkali, a civil servant living in the area, told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers entered the estate through the second gate. He mentioned that security forces chased the attackers and managed to rescue some victims, but the kidnappers got away.

At the time of this report, the number of people rescued and the location of those still missing were not known. Millennium City is quickly growing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Residents say kidnappings are happening more often, creating a pattern that leaves families scared about the future. Maryam Hassan, Rakiya Umar, and AbdulMajid AbdulJabbar spoke to PREMIUM TIMES about the frequent attacks in Babban Saura, Osibanjo Estate, Kyauta, and Danhonu in recent weeks.

Mr AbdulJabbar shared that suspected kidnappers attacked Babban Saura in early October and took 11 people. He also mentioned that women were targeted in Osibanjo Estate. In Kyauta, near a new hospital, security operatives fought back against an attack.

Awwal Sani, a resident of Danhonu, recalled the kidnapping of a couple and their two children. Another resident described the attackers as very armed and said they sometimes arrived in a Hummer bus, along with over 50 motorcycles. The resident claimed these men carried advanced weapons and moved in large groups.

These claims could not be independently confirmed. A community leader, Jafaru Mamman, told PREMIUM TIMES that residents have faced constant insecurity since September. He said the number of gun battles and kidnappings has disrupted daily life.

“In the last 40 days, there is no day we will not hear gunshots around the community,” Mr Mamman stated. “People are no longer safe. We sleep with our eyes open. It is a tough time for residents,” he added.

Mr Mamman recognized that security personnel are deployed in some parts of the area but said their numbers are not enough to protect the community. “These guys come in hundreds and do their things at will. It is very scary,” he said.

Some residents fear they may have to leave homes they worked hard to build. A member of a joint security task force said he helped fight back during Tuesday’s attack. The operative, who asked to remain anonymous, said there was a gun battle.

He mentioned that security personnel forced the attackers to retreat after they suffered losses, but he did not provide specific numbers that could be verified. This incident happened less than two weeks after police arrested eight suspected kidnappers and four alleged informants around Millennium City and Maraban Rido.

Police also recovered AK-47 rifles during these operations. Mr Mamman said residents want government officials to visit the affected communities, check the security situation, and explain how they will be protected.

Other residents called for a strong security presence, better patrols, improved intelligence gathering, and quicker responses to calls for help. PREMIUM TIMES could not get an immediate response from the Kaduna State Police Command. The phone number available to the reporter was not connecting when this report was written.

A police officer working in the area told PREMIUM TIMES that more security measures and patrols are being implemented. The state government’s response to the latest complaints from residents was not immediately available.

On social media, residents and others called on the government to step in and address the ongoing kidnappings. Mr Mamman warned that Millennium City’s location, with road links to other parts of Kaduna, makes this situation a bigger issue for the city.

The area is close to established neighborhoods like Malali and Unguwar Rimi, where many professionals reside. Millennium City was planned during the tenure of former Governor Ahmed Makarfi to accommodate the growing population of the city through organized residential development.

Over the years, it has grown into a major residential area, attracting homeowners and families looking for land and housing outside the more developed parts of the city. But a land administrator in Kaduna, Aminu Ahmed, told PREMIUM TIMES that the development has not fully met its original goals.

He said the area was meant to be an organized residential layout, but land allocation practices and development outside the original plan have led to disorganized growth. According to Mr Ahmed, access to land through personal connections and informal arrangements changed the intended layout.

The former Governor Nasir El-Rufai's administration tried to improve parts of the area, but it did not fix all the problems of its development. The result is a large district whose rapid growth has not kept up with the infrastructure and public services needed for its increasing population.