Kaduna Community Threatened by Terrorists Following Death of Two Insurgents by Troops

After a military operation killed two gang members and recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammo, and approximately ₦1.6 million, residents of Ungwan Nungu in Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State, are terrified due to new threats from terrorists who pledged to retaliate.

The revival of threats, according to community sources who spoke to Sahara Reporters on Friday, occurs just a few days after ten residents—six women and four men—were kidnapped on their fields on November 29. This has become a regular occurrence in the neighborhood.

Residents said that the terrorists were stopped by military on Friday as they were trying to demand a ransom for the kidnapped villagers. An AK-47 gun, one round of 9mm ammo, and cash thought to be ransom money were purportedly found by the soldiers.

In a Hausa-language recording that Sahara Reporters was able to get, the terrorists claimed that villagers had warned soldiers, which resulted in the deadly ambush.

One homeowner stated, “The voice note is from the terrorists who are threatening us after two of them were suspected of being killed.”

About fifteen persons, mostly youngsters, were kidnapped during a previous incident in Ungwan Nungu; five of them were eventually abandoned because they were too frail to make the walk.

A terrorist threatened to take violent revenge on the community in the audio message.

“We appreciate what you have done for us,” he remarked. I hope everyone wants to coexist peacefully with us.

“Is that the reason you sent troops to us? Can you hear me? I swear to Almighty God; are you aware of God’s power? You and I have “entered the same pants.” You sent soldiers along despite bringing us money.

“Do you hear me? I pledge to God that we will make up for what the military did to us. We will undoubtedly exact revenge if we survive.

“I’m telling you this so that you won’t claim we didn’t warn you if something happens in the future, not because I want to hear what you have to say. By God’s grace, we will exact revenge on them for what they did to us. Please wait and see if you are still a part of this community.

The bunch would reunite and return, he said. The terrorists also demanded payment for the confiscated AK-47, threatening widespread attacks if the town did not comply.

“Are you hearing me?” he said. You will witness God’s miracles when we return next month after we have finished all the preparations.

“They stole one of our rifles, and only God knows how many lives will be lost as a result.” However, they reimburse us for the missing firearm.

“We have been having peaceful interactions with both you and the security personnel.” However, if you don’t pay for the rifle that the military stole from us, we will start attacking you everywhere from the farms to the villages to the roadways, including the security personnel.

However, you can be sure that no one in your town will live in peace if you refuse to pay for the weapon. You’ll regret it if I give you two months, I vow to God.

“Be prepared. You know where to look if you want to pay. And we’ll come get it from you on our own if you refuse.

A community spokesman insisted they did not notify the military, pleading innocence in the recording.

“I swear to God, we didn’t send soldiers to you,” he declared. We fulfilled our commitment from yesterday. Why would we deploy troops to your people? The Nigerian military, he continued, had confronted the locals and accused them of concealing information on ransom negotiations.

The Nigerian military is upset that we stole money yesterday to give to you without telling them. We still won’t give them any information.

“No one was sent to you folks. We didn’t tell anyone, as I told you. They are placing the blame on us, questioning why we are corresponding with you people while keeping the security personnel in the dark.

Residents of Ungwan Nungu claim they now live in fear, not knowing when the assailants would strike again, since terrorists have designated roads, villages, and farmlands as targets.