Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
At least six farmers have been confirmed dead and about 20 others abducted after suspected bandits, reportedly among those previously described as “repentant,” launched a deadly attack on farmers in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday morning, June 22, 2026.
The attack occurred at about 11:00 a.m. in Layin Danauta village, where heavily armed gunmen stormed farmlands north of the community and opened fire on unsuspecting farmers in what witnesses described as a coordinated guerrilla‑style assault. Residents said the assailants operated in a coordinated manner, shooting sporadically as they advanced into the farms, leaving several people dead and others injured in the process.
Community sources told SaharaReporters that seven women and about 15 men were abducted during the attack, although the figures remained preliminary. Several other farmers sustained varying degrees of injuries as villagers fled for safety. Local volunteers, hunters, and community members immediately launched search-and‑recovery efforts, combing nearby bushes and farmlands for missing victims.
As of 11:30 p.m. on Monday night, six bodies had been recovered from the attack scene, while efforts were ongoing to locate other victims. Community sources fear the death toll could rise as more casualties are accounted for. The exact number of those killed, injured, and abducted has yet to be officially confirmed, as the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued any statement on the incident at the time of this report.
The latest bloodshed comes barely days after angry residents of Birnin Gwari staged a protest against the continued activities of so‑called “repentant” bandits operating in the area. The protest was triggered by the killing of Ibrahim Adamu, a commercial driver and grandson of a traditional ruler in the Birnin Gwari Emirate, who was reportedly murdered by bandits along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road. His killing, coupled with the abduction of several farmers in nearby communities, ignited outrage among residents already frustrated by years of insecurity.
Witnesses said scores of youths poured into the streets in protest, accusing authorities of failing to protect communities despite repeated assurances that security had improved. The demonstration reportedly escalated as angry residents chased herders and other Fulani residents from parts of the town, raising fears of a wider communal crisis. Security operatives were subsequently deployed to prevent a breakdown of law and order, while traditional rulers and community leaders intervened to calm tensions.
For many residents, Monday’s attack has reinforced growing scepticism over claims that former bandits have genuinely abandoned violence. Community leaders argue that despite repeated peace deals and reconciliation efforts, rural communities continue to bear the brunt of killings, kidnappings, and attacks that have devastated livelihoods and turned once‑thriving farming settlements into zones of fear.
At the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to release an official casualty figure, while the fate of those abducted remained uncertain. Families of the victims spent the night in anguish, hoping for news from loved ones taken into the forests by the gunmen. The attack is the latest reminder that despite years of military operations, peace negotiations and promises of security reforms, vast stretches of Birnin Gwari and other parts of Kaduna State remain vulnerable to the deadly grip of bandit violence.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments