Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Kaduna, Nigeria — Residents of Danhonu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State took to the streets on Monday, February 9, 2026, to protest a surge in insecurity following the abduction of seven persons by suspected bandits, highlighting deepening fears over persistent kidnappings in the region. The protest underscored mounting frustration among local communities over recurrent attacks and what demonstrators described as inadequate protection by authorities.
The latest attack occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, when gunmen believed to be bandits invaded the residential area and seized members of two families. Authorities and community members identified the kidnapped victims as Malam Yahaya Yusuf, his wife Latifat Yusuf, and their sons Abdulgafar and Abdulqudus. Also taken were Mrs Abdulrazak Jimoh and two of her children, whose names were not immediately released.
Reacting to the abduction, angry residents marched to the Millennium City Divisional Police Headquarters, blocking a major access road while chanting solidarity songs and demanding accelerated and effective security intervention. Protest organisers said the demonstrations were aimed at drawing wider attention to what they called the “unbearable pressure” of repeated kidnappings in the community, which they said had recorded at least 11 reported abduction cases in recent months.
One protester, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described how heavily armed assailants stormed the community in large numbers, wielding AK-47 rifles and overwhelming local residents. He said: “In the last one month, more than four residents have been kidnapped here. Yesterday, no fewer than 15 bandits came with AK-47 rifles and abducted about five residents to an unknown destination.”
The chairman of the Danhonu II Landlords Association, Mr. Akoh Salifu, echoed the community’s sense of vulnerability. He stated that residents felt they could no longer live in peace and that repeated attacks had eroded confidence in existing security arrangements. Salifu said some youths had attempted to pursue the kidnappers into the bush after Sunday night’s attack but were unable to catch up with them. “As law-abiding citizens, we decided to come to the police to formally register our grievances and cry out for urgent intervention to save our community,” he said.
Kaduna State Police authorities confirmed the attack and the subsequent protest. DSP Mansir Hassan, the Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, said officers received a distress call and responded to the scene, accompanied by soldiers. However, due to poor road access and difficult terrain, security operatives arrived after the bandits had fled, despite a reported exchange of gunfire. He noted that the police were continuing efforts to trace the kidnappers and secure the release of the abducted residents.
Hassan also disclosed that Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad visited the community and met with stakeholders in the wake of the incident, assuring them that the command was considering the establishment of a police outpost in the area to enhance security coverage and reduce response times to future threats.
Kaduna State has faced a protracted security crisis in recent years, with banditry, kidnapping and insurgent attacks recurring across both urban and rural communities. Just days earlier, in a separate incident within the state, armed gunmen attacked Kauru Local Government Area, resulting in three fatalities and the abduction of 11 individuals, including a Catholic priest, in a pre-dawn assault. That attack underscored the breadth of insecurity in the region and intensified calls for improved protection for civilians.
The recent abduction in Danhonu II adds to a long list of similar episodes in Kaduna, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted villages, commuters and isolated neighbourhoods for kidnappings and ransom demands. Community leaders and civil society advocates argue that such incidents have fuelled displacement, disrupted local livelihoods and eroded public trust in the capacity of security agencies. They have urged both state and federal governments to deploy more intelligence-driven operations and strengthen collaboration with local vigilante and community policing efforts.
Economists and security analysts say that chronic insecurity in Kaduna and similar states in Nigeria’s northwest region has profound socio-economic implications. Persistent fears of bandit attacks discourage investment, limit agricultural activities, and contribute to internal displacement, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable populations. They further note that improving infrastructure — including roads and communication networks — could enhance security responses and deter criminal groups from exploiting remote areas.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and successive state governments have deployed military operations, joint patrols and community policing initiatives in an effort to diminish the influence of bandit groups. However, community representatives and human rights organisations argue that these measures have yet to deliver sustained peace in several hotspot areas, particularly where terrain and logistical challenges hinder ongoing operations.
For residents of Danhonu II, the protest was both an expression of frustration and a plea for urgent and tangible action to protect lives and secure the release of their loved ones. As they lowered road barriers and receded from the police headquarters, their calls for heightened vigilance, strategic deployment of forces and improved community engagement in security planning resonated across Kaduna State, where many continue to endure similar threats.
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