Two Residents Killed, Local Government Chairman’s Vehicle Burnt as Bandits Attack Ugom Community in Kaduna

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Suspected armed bandits on Monday launched a deadly attack on Ugom community in the Ehwakya area of Kaduna State, killing two residents and burning multiple vehicles, including the official vehicle of the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area. The incident occurred amid what witnesses described as a sudden burst of violence that engulfed portions of the community during a burial ceremony. 

Local residents and community leaders identified the two men killed in the attack as 25-year-old Bitrus David and 40-year-old Goma Idi. According to eyewitness accounts, gunmen stormed the area in the evening, firing indiscriminately and creating panic among villagers. Mourners who had gathered for the burial of the father of politician Usman D. Stingo were said to have fled as the attackers approached, accelerating the chaos that ensued. 

The bandits also invaded Dogon-Noma, a settlement where the burial rites were taking place, according to those familiar with the situation. In addition to the chairman’s official vehicle, no fewer than four vehicles were set ablaze during the assault, including a vehicle belonging to Stingo, compounding the sense of loss and destruction experienced by the community.

In a statement relayed by the Chairman of the Ugom Progressive Union, Onnusim Alhaji Ishaya, the incident was described as “tragic” and deeply distressing for residents. Ishaya reported that bandits entered the locality, shot indiscriminately, and left at least two confirmed dead as families struggled to account for missing relatives and escape the violence. He called on security agencies to intervene decisively and restore safety to the area. 

Security authorities had not issued an official statement confirming the attack or provided details on any operational response at the time of this report. Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command for verification and comment were not immediately successful by press time.

Ugom is located within Kajuru Local Government Area, a region that has been vulnerable to repeated attacks by armed groups. Kaduna State has experienced a series of violent assaults by bandits targeting rural communities, fuelled by persistent insecurity in forested and peripheral areas. In past years, similar attacks in parts of the state have resulted in dozens of deaths, abductions, and widespread displacement of villagers. 

The latest attack comes against the backdrop of ongoing concerns among residents about their safety and calls for reinforced security presence. Community leaders have increasingly urged government and security agencies to enhance patrols, deploy more personnel to vulnerable hotspots, and protect citizens, especially during vulnerable periods such as gatherings and market activities.

For now, villagers remain on edge as they assess the toll of the attack, mourn their dead, and seek assurances that additional violence will not follow. The burning of the local government chairman’s official vehicle — a symbol of civic authority — has further underscored the audacity of the assault and the insecurity facing communities in parts of southern Kaduna.

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