Bandits have abducted nine people, including three children, just hours after killing six persons in the Akwondo community of Kachia LGA, Kaduna State.

The bandits had earlier invaded the same community, killing six residents who were resting under a tree before fleeing the scene.

A member of the community, Garba Tanimu, said the bandits returned to the village on Saturday at about 10:12 pm. During this second attack, they whisked away six male adults and three children between the ages of 12 and 15.

He stated that the bandits, wielding AK-47 rifles, invaded two houses belonging to Muazu Shehu and Bala Ya’u, dragging the victims into the bush amid sporadic gunfire.

He explained that the attackers escaped with the victims through the Maraban Wolijo axis, which links to Kachia town.

“The reason the bandits operated so freely when they returned on Saturday was that they had already succeeded in killing the six young men who usually pursued them to rescue abducted victims,” he said. “They felt comfortable enough to return the next day and whisk away more victims without anyone to confront them.”

A community leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed the abduction of the nine individuals.

He lamented that the community has been under siege since November last year, forcing some villagers to abandon their homes and farms.

“The truth is that the Akwondo community is under siege. Those six young men were the ones who always prevented these bandits from abducting our people, but now that they have been killed, we are vulnerable,” the leader said.

He added that contact is yet to be established with the abductors. He appealed to security agencies to come to the aid of the families and help secure the victims’ release.

The spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Hassan Mansur, had not yet reacted to the incident at the time of filing this report.

However, a police source in the area said operatives are trailing the bandits. (Daily Trust)

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