The Farin Dutse community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has been thrown into deep mourning following the brutal killing of a local cleric, Reverend Yahaya Kambasaya, by armed bandits.
According to reports, the slain pastor’s remains were transported from Kaduna to his home state of Adamawa, where he was laid to rest on Saturday.
Despite the burial, tension and grief continue to grip the community, as over 20 residents abducted during the same coordinated assault remain in the custody of the attackers.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the bandits stormed Damakasuwa village in Kauru LGA, shooting sporadically and attacking residents indiscriminately. “As of now, five locals have been killed and we have recovered their corpses, including minors,” a community source told Chronicles Reporters.
Several survivors reportedly sustained severe injuries and are receiving treatment in critical condition.
The attack in Kauru adds to a growing wave of violence across Kaduna State. On Friday, gunmen abducted several traders traveling to the weekly Layin Danauta market in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
A resident confirmed that the traders were ambushed around 8 a.m. at Kwanan Danwandara in Tabani Ward. “The bandits intercepted a golf car conveying traders from Dandume, Katsina State, and abducted all the occupants, including the driver,” the source said. “They also kidnapped two individuals riding a motorcycle in the same area.”
The victims were reportedly taken into a nearby forest, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Banditry has become a recurring nightmare for residents of Kaduna State, with communities across Kauru, Birnin Gwari, and other local governments facing frequent raids, abductions, and killings.
Security analysts and community leaders have continued to call on both state and federal authorities to intensify efforts to combat the worsening insecurity in the region, which has left many villages deserted and families shattered