By Ayo Kehinde
Citizens of the Kutaho and Kugir communities in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State have fled their homes, following a violent midnight raid that left over 30 people abducted and local leaders injured.
The attack occurred around 2:00 a.m. on Monday, targeting villagers while they slept. Among those abducted were a Catholic catechist, his heavily pregnant wife, and approximately 30 other residents.
Rev. Fr. Linus Matthew Bobai, Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kutaho, confirmed that the raid has prompted a mass exodus, with over 90 percent of the population seeking refuge in neighbouring villages. He described the assault as premeditated, noting that the bandits had previously issued threats and made ransom demands.
“They had targeted a parishioner for ₦10 million, citing the community’s successful ginger cultivation and irrigation farming as evidence of wealth”, he said. Despite prior warnings, the gunmen returned while the priest was away in Kaduna.
The kidnappings were coordinated across two locations. In Kutaho, the waziri and 4 others were seized, including the catechist and his immediate family, though elderly residents and those with health challenges were later released. In Kugir, another 16 people were abducted from a church outstation residence.
Violence was also inflicted on local leadership. The village head (Dakachi) narrowly escaped death, but sustained severe machete wounds to his head and arm and is currently receiving medical treatment in Kagarko.
The mass abductions and attacks have left Kutaho and Kugir largely deserted, creating ghost towns. Fr. Bobai lamented the security vacuum, noting that soldiers in nearby areas had been alerted of prior threats, but the communities reportedly lacked regular security patrols.
Families of the victims and the parish priest are appealing to the Kaduna State Government and federal security agencies for urgent intervention. They stressed that residents cannot continue to live as refugees in their own land and are pleading for the safe return of the 32 abducted villagers.
As of this report, the Police Command in the state has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
