Bandits yesterday struck in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting seven residents of Unguwar Barkonu community in Maraban Kajuru, Kufana Ward.
Also, in the Eleyewo, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. suspected gunmen at the weekend abducted four residents working at a site.
The victims – Adesola Emiloye (45), Jimoh Akinlolu (35), Ebenezer Oloro (43), and another individual whose identity is yet to be ascertained – were ambushed.
Spokesman for the Ondo State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed this in a statement in Akure.
A resident of Kajuru, Steven Kefas, stated in a Facebook post that the armed men invaded the community about 1:00 a.m., broke into several houses and took the victims to an unknown destination.
Kefas noted that the attack occurred in the town and not in a remote settlement, stressing that Unguwar Barkonu is located at the heart of Kajuru with accessible road networks.
“This incident did not occur in a remote village with no access road. It happened right in the heart of Kajuru, in Kufana,” he wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no response from the police or other security agencies on the abduction.
But, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru Local Government Area, Revd Enoch Kaura, said the attack occurred late Saturday night.According to him, the bandits stormed the area around 11:00 p.m. and surrounded parts of the community before residents noticed unusual movements and raised the alarm.
He explained that the attackers eventually fled the area with seven residents after neighbours mobilised in response to the strange noises.
Revd Kaura described the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks in Kajuru, noting that residents continued to live in fear despite repeated appeals for increased security presence.
He called on security agencies to intensify patrols and intelligence operations in Maraban Kajuru and surrounding communities to prevent further attacks and ensure the safe rescue of the abducted victims.
Kajuru Local Government Area has witnessed a series of bandit attacks and kidnappings in recent years, with several communities repeatedly targeted by armed groups.
Abayomi said the incident occurred around 9:45 a.m., and the police received a distress call at the Control Room alerting the command of the abduction.
“Upon receiving the report, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams were deployed to the scene,” he stated in the statement.
Abayomi explained that the prompt response of the police led to the rescue of two of the abducted victims, as well as the recovery of their motorcycles.
He added that the remaining victims reportedly escaped into the bush during the operation.
According to him, efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
Reiterating the command’s commitment to public safety, DSP Abayomi stated that the state has never been and will never be a safe haven for criminal elements.
He stressed that those involved in crime would be identified, tracked, and brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has applauded the effective inter-agency collaboration between the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state.
Lawal said the relationship between the two security agencies had enhanced crime prevention in the state.
He also appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his leadership and ongoing strategic policing reforms, which he said have improved intelligence sharing and operational efficiency nationwide.
The police boss, however, urged residents to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely and credible information to aid crime prevention and detection.
