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By Lawrence Agbo
Residents of Kutaho and Kugir communities in Aribi Ward of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State have abandoned their homes following a deadly midnight attack by suspected bandits that resulted in multiple abductions.
Among those kidnapped were a Catholic catechist, his heavily pregnant wife, and their child, alongside about 30 other residents.
Linus Matthew Bobai, the parish priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kutaho, confirmed the occurrence, saying that the kidnappers stormed the communities in the early hours, firing sporadically, forcing families to escape into nearby bushes and neighbouring settlements.
He stated that the attack occurred around 2 a.m. on Monday when armed bandits stormed the communities after earlier issuing threats to residents.
“Before the incident, they called one of my parishioners and demanded ₦10 million, threatening to kidnap him if he failed to comply.”
“They claimed our people are into irrigation farming and ginger cultivation, and that means money,” Fr. Bobai said.
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He clarified that while he was out in Kaduna acquiring textbooks for St. Joseph School, the bandits returned as threatened and launched a concerted attack in spite of warnings to the community to maintain their vigilance.
According to the clergyman, the attackers kidnapped 16 people from Kutaho, including a Catholic catechist, his pregnant wife, and their child, and another 16 people from Kugir, making 32 people in all.
He said the gunmen first detained about 20 Kutaho locals before releasing the elderly and those with medical conditions.
Reports reveal that the attackers broke into a church outstation home in Kugir and kidnapped several residents, including children, and several victims escaped as they were being taken away.
Bobai further disclosed that the village chief was attacked with a machete and barely survived.
“The Dakachi was almost killed. His head and arm were badly injured, and he had to be rushed to Kagarko for treatment,” he said.
