Bandits have abducted the Chief Imam of Janjala Central Mosque, Malam Bello Abdullahi, a prominent Fulani leader, Alhaji Shehu Bello, and a woman in the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, deepening fears in a region already reeling from repeated attacks.

Local sources say the latest assault is part of a sustained campaign of terror in Kagarko, where armed groups have in recent days raided several communities, including Iddo, Gidan-Makeri, Kohoto and Janjala. Residents report that scores of people have been seized and large numbers of cattle rustled, crippling livelihoods and forcing families to flee.

The abduction of the religious and community leaders occurred at about 9pm, when gunmen reportedly stormed Janjala in large numbers, firing sporadically and wielding AK-47 rifles. Witnesses say the attackers first surrounded the residence of the Chief Imam, seizing him before moving to the home of the Fulani leader, where they abducted him and a woman.

The raid has thrown Janjala and neighbouring settlements into panic. Many residents have abandoned their homes, trekking through the night to seek refuge in Kagarko town and Sabon-Wuse, where they are staying with relatives or in makeshift shelters.

A community leader, speaking by telephone, described the situation as a siege. He said that for more than a week, bandits have operated almost unhindered, issuing threats and demanding ransoms. In Kohoto, a nearby village, residents fled after bandits gave a seven-day ultimatum to raise N6 million for the release of the abducted wife and four children of a local vigilante.

He lamented that repeated distress calls to security agencies in Kagarko had not yielded a meaningful response, leaving communities feeling abandoned. According to him, fear has replaced normal life, with farms deserted and markets nearly empty.

A source at the Kagarko Emirate Council, who asked not to be named for security reasons, confirmed the attacks and said the palace had formally reported the situation to the local government authorities. Some displaced residents from Kohoto and Janjala are currently sheltering at the palace, he added.

The emirate expects a rapid deployment of security forces to pursue the attackers and restore order, but residents say they are still waiting. A police source in the area confirmed the latest abductions but declined to provide details, directing inquiries to the Kaduna State command headquarters.