No fewer than nine farmers have been killed and several others abducted following an attack by suspected bandits on Kakangi village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attack reportedly occurred on Saturday when the gunmen invaded farmlands and opened fire on farmers carrying out their daily activities.
A security report cited by AFP indicated that nine bodies had been recovered after the assault, while local authorities had identified six of the victims at the time of the report.
A community leader in Birnin Gwari, Kabiru Ishaq, however, said the death toll had risen to 10.
According to local accounts, the attack was believed to be a reprisal after residents reportedly resisted an earlier robbery attempt and killed one of the suspected bandits.
The security report stated that the slain suspect’s associates later returned with additional armed men and carried out the deadly raid on the farming community.
Birnin Gwari has remained one of the worst-hit areas in Kaduna State, where armed groups frequently target rural communities, killing residents, abducting victims for ransom and disrupting farming activities.
Although local authorities facilitated a peace agreement between affected communities and armed groups in late 2024, violent attacks have continued in parts of the district.
The latest incident comes only weeks after another attack on Danauta village, where several farmers were killed and dozens of residents reportedly abducted, raising fresh concerns over security in farming communities across Kaduna State.