Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Southern Kaduna — Gunmen have abducted the mother and niece of Rachael Averik, Special Assistant on Political Affairs to the Governor of Kaduna State, in a brazen attack in Hayin Gada, Arak 1 community, Sanga Local Government Area, compounding the trauma faced by her family just days after the fatal killing of her brother. Residents and multiple community sources report a continued surge in violent attacks by armed groups across Southern Kaduna, underscoring persistent insecurity in the region.
According to a social media disclosure by Ms. Averik on Tuesday, her elderly mother and young niece were seized from their home while the family was still mourning the death of her brother, Kefas Habila Averik, who was killed in a late‑night attack on December 31, 2025. In her Facebook post, she described the latest abduction as “devastating,” highlighting the compounded grief and fear facing her family.
Her brother’s killing earlier occurred when gunmen stormed his residence near midnight, firing gunshots and demanding that he open the door. According to community accounts, Habila Averik, 33, was inside his room with his wife and their child at the time of the assault. Despite gunfire and verbal commands, he refused to open up, leading the assailants to break a window, force their way inside, and shoot him in the head before fleeing the scene, leaving his family traumatized and bereft.
The armed attackers returned to the same community just 48 hours after that killing and abducted Ms. Averik’s mother — identified in local reports as Mrs. Averik Arak — along with her granddaughter. A number of local and regional reports confirm that the woman was still mourning and was reportedly ill at the time of her abduction.
The renewed kidnapping in Arak village is part of a distressing pattern of armed raids in Southern Kaduna, where multiple communities have been targeted in recent weeks. Other villages in Kajuru and Kauru Local Government Areas have also seen large numbers of abductions, including minors, often occurring at night when residents are most vulnerable.
Sources say that in addition to the Averik family abductions, 32 other villagers, including elderly persons and children, were reportedly kidnapped in simultaneous or near‑concurrent attacks across the region, further heightening alarm among residents and civil society groups.
Southern Kaduna has for years endured recurring violence involving armed bandits and gunmen, with communities often bearing the brunt of insecurity that spans multiple local government areas. Despite the presence of security formations, residents continue to report vulnerabilities, with some blaming slow response times and insufficient proactive measures.
The abductions of Ms. Averik’s relatives come amid repeated calls by community leaders for improved security in the region. Many residents say they are forced to live with the constant threat of raids, especially along rural roads and in remote settlements that are easy targets for armed groups. Kidnappings there have increasingly involved whole families — including children and the elderly — and have often occurred in quick succession, deepening local fear and instability.
In making her disclosure public, Ms. Averik has drawn attention to the human toll of insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where state officials and their families are not immune to the violence affecting ordinary citizens. The killing of her brother and the subsequent abduction of her mother and niece highlight how quickly grief can spiral into further trauma in a context marked by rampant banditry.
Security analysts note that the surge in raids across Southern Kaduna involves loosely allied armed factions who exploit dense forests and limited patrolling to strike with little warning, often overwhelming local defences. The attacks have contributed to a climate of fear that has displaced many families and disrupted community life.
As of the latest reports, there has been no official confirmation from the Kaduna State Police Command regarding the abduction of Ms. Averik’s relatives or the identities of the assailants. Police and military authorities are yet to issue statements on the series of raids, despite civilians reporting multiple kidnappings over the past week.
The state government and security agencies have consistently warned against complacency and reiterated commitments to combating banditry, but residents continue to call for more robust and visible security measures. Many say they are exhausted by the cycle of violence and yearn for sustained protection that prevents attacks before they occur rather than responding only after abductions and killings.
For now, the family of Ms. Averik — and indeed the community of Arak — remains on edge as efforts by security stakeholders to locate and secure the release of the abducted mother and niece continue. With the region’s history of protracted conflicts and intermittent violence, the latest developments are likely to intensify both local and national calls for stronger actions to protect vulnerable communities.
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