Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Residents of Ehwakya village in the Ugom community of Maro Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, are once again gripped by fear following a renewed attack by armed assailants that occurred on Friday, February 7, 2026. The latest incident has deepened anxiety in the agrarian community, which is still struggling to recover from a deadly assault carried out barely a month earlier.
Local sources said the attackers struck at about 5:00 p.m., arriving in the village and opening fire indiscriminately. The sound of gunshots reportedly sent residents fleeing for safety as panic spread through the area. In the course of the attack, the assailants were said to have ransacked several homes, carting away food items, household property, and other valuables.
Amid the chaos, a young woman, estimated to be about 24 years old, was abducted by the attackers. Her identity had not been officially released as of the time of reporting, but community members confirmed that she was taken away during the raid, adding to the growing number of unresolved abduction cases linked to the area.
The renewed violence comes just over a month after Ehwakya village suffered a similar attack on January 4, 2026. During that earlier incident, one resident was killed and at least 15 others were kidnapped. Although two of the abducted victims, Mrs. Janet John and her nursing baby, were recently reported to have escaped from captivity, 13 persons from that attack are still believed to be in the hands of their abductors.
Community leaders say the repeated assaults suggest a deliberate campaign of intimidation against residents. According to them, the kidnappers had previously communicated with the community, claiming that ransom payments collected from victims were being used to sustain their operations and to acquire more weapons. They reportedly warned that paying ransom would not guarantee safety or an end to the attacks.
Residents further disclosed that the attackers issued stark ultimatums, demanding that the community either abandon the area or agree to “make peace” with them. Failure to comply, the assailants allegedly warned, would result in continued and possibly escalated attacks.
Reacting to the latest incident, the Chairman of the Ugom Progressive Union, Onnusim Alhaji Ishaya, described the situation as dire and unsustainable. He said the community was living under constant fear, with residents unsure of when the next attack might occur.
“Our people are helpless and overwhelmed,” Ishaya said. “Most of us are local farmers. This land is our only source of livelihood and our ancestral home. We have nowhere else to go.”
He appealed to the Kaduna State Government, security agencies, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene urgently, warning that without decisive action, the community could face further loss of lives and mass displacement. According to him, many residents now sleep with one eye open, while others have begun relocating women and children to neighboring communities perceived as relatively safer.
Kajuru Local Government Area has in recent years remained one of the flashpoints of insecurity in southern Kaduna, with recurring cases of armed attacks, kidnappings, and displacement. Rural communities, particularly farming settlements like Ehwakya, are often vulnerable due to their isolation and limited security presence.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Kaduna State Police Command regarding the latest attack. However, residents say they have reported the incident to relevant authorities and are awaiting a response.
The fresh abduction has once again raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures in the area and the safety of rural populations caught between armed groups and limited state protection. For the people of Ehwakya village, the immediate concern remains the safe return of the abducted woman and the prevention of yet another cycle of violence.
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