Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A group of alleged "repentant" bandits in Kaduna State has reportedly killed a kidnapped farmer while he was in captivity, dealing a devastating blow to ongoing peace and reconciliation initiatives between the state government and armed groups operating in the region. The victim, identified as Mallam Umaru Ibrahim, was abducted on Monday while working on his farm in Kidandan, a community in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which borders the volatile Birnin Gwari axis. His body was recovered on Wednesday morning from a bush area known as Sidi, according to a relative, Muhammadu Sani, who confirmed the tragic development to reporters.
"They killed him in a bush called Sidi. His remains were recovered and buried," Sani said, describing the grim discovery that has shattered the family and sent shockwaves through the agrarian community. Sani further alleged that residents are being actively discouraged from reporting incidents of killings and kidnappings on social media, raising troubling questions about a potential cover-up of the scale of violence plaguing the region. "We are being forced to stop reporting killings and kidnappings on social media by local government officials and traditional rulers," he claimed. "We cannot keep quiet while they do nothing and we are being killed and kidnapped daily by these terrorists whom they claim have repented. Where is the repentance in all these atrocities?"
The killing of Mallam Umaru Ibrahim is the latest in a series of violent attacks that have undermined confidence in the Kaduna State Government's much-touted peace deal with bandits. Just days earlier, on Monday, bandits suspected to be among the same "repentant" groups launched a brazen attack on Layin Danauta village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, killing an unspecified number of farmers and abducting several others. According to community sources, the attack occurred around 11 a.m. when armed men stormed farmlands north of the village and opened fire on farmers. Seven women and about 15 men were abducted during the assault, though the figures remain preliminary. As of late Monday night, six bodies had reportedly been recovered from the scene, with residents and local volunteers continuing search-and-recovery efforts. Community sources expressed fear that the death toll could rise as efforts continued to locate other missing victims.
The Layin Danauta attack came on the heels of a protest that rocked Birnin Gwari town last Friday, following the killing of Mallam Ibrahim Adamu, a commercial driver and grandson of a traditional ruler in the Birnin Gwari Emirate. Angry residents, mostly youths, took to the streets to protest what they described as continued attacks by so-called "repentant" bandits. The protest turned tense when some demonstrators chased herders and other Fulani residents out of parts of the town, raising fears of reprisals and a possible breakdown of law and order. Security operatives, traditional rulers, and community leaders eventually intervened to restore calm. In a separate incident that added to the growing anxiety, four farmers were also kidnapped while working on their farms in the Kurgi area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, further disrupting agricultural activities in the region.
The Birnin Gwari axis has witnessed repeated attacks despite claims of peace arrangements with armed groups. Residents said the latest violence had heightened fear among farmers and further disrupted agricultural activities in rural communities as the rainy season progresses. Community members also alleged that armed groups operating in the area often seize motorcycles, phones, money, and other valuables from victims. They called on security agencies to intensify patrols along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway and strengthen protection for farming communities vulnerable to repeated attacks.
In a significant development, Muhammadu Sani identified one Abba Danlami as a potential witness to the incident, alleging that he was abducted by the same group but later escaped. "There is one Abba Danlami who was also kidnapped by the same bandits who killed our brother. He escaped and has full details of what happened," Sani added, suggesting that critical evidence may be available to investigators. The latest killing has deepened the sense of betrayal among communities that had placed cautious hope in the state's reconciliation efforts. Governor Uba Sani had previously defended the peace deal, stating, "I'd rather negotiate with bandits than to bear the weight of a single life lost in Kaduna. If not, I will be held accountable on the day of resurrection, having promised and sworn an oath." However, the repeated attacks by bandits who were supposed to have renounced violence have called that strategy into question.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government and the Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the killing of Mallam Umaru Ibrahim. The incident has heightened concerns over persistent insecurity in the Giwa–Birnin Gwari axis, despite official claims of a peace deal with armed groups through dialogue and reconciliation. For the family of the deceased and the broader community, the question remains stark and unanswered: where is the repentance in the face of continued bloodshed?
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