The Akurmi community in the Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State has raised the alarm over ongoing killings and kidnappings by bandits.

Since October 2025, 59 people from the village have been abducted and remain in captivity, the community noted.

During a press conference in Kaduna on Tuesday, Yakubu Maigamo, President of the Akurmi Development Association (AKURDA), painted a grim picture of life under siege.

He stated that the recent wave of violence in their settlements over the past four months has pushed the community to the brink.

Maigamo said what used to be thriving ancestral farmlands have now turned into “graveyards and forests of fear,” as gunmen invade villages at will, killing men and whisking away women and children.

He said the attacks have been systematic and devastating, affecting several communities across Lere and neighbouring local governments.

He cited Karku-Ningi in Kauru LGA, where four persons were killed and nine kidnapped during an October 2025 raid.

He also listed Gidan-Waya, Jan-Tsauni and Mai-Yamma in Lere LGA where another four people were killed and 13 abducted in November 2025.

According to him, more abductions and killings were recorded in Majagada, Gurza, Garun-Kurama and Biman-Kurama communities within the period under review.

Maigamo disclosed that at least 59 people abducted since October last year are still in captivity, with families forced to sell off harvested grains meant to sustain them through the year to pay ransoms.

He described the bandits as operating with “absolute impunity,” alleging that the attackers strike repeatedly without resistance or consequence.

While acknowledging efforts by the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to address insecurity, the community leader said the response has been grossly insufficient to stem the tide of attacks on Akurmi settlements.

The association issued a direct appeal to Governor Uba Sani to order an immediate and permanent deployment of security personnel to Akurmi communities to prevent further attacks.

It also demanded a coordinated, high-level intelligence operation aimed specifically at rescuing all abductees still in captivity.

Maigamo further called for a thorough investigation, arrest and prosecution of those behind the attacks, as well as any collaborators aiding the criminals.

“Justice cannot wait. Safety cannot be delayed,” he said.

“Our commitment to peace must not be mistaken for a willingness to perish in silence. An injury to one is an injury to all.” (TRIBUNE)