Fresh attacks by suspected “repentant” bandits in Kaduna State have reignited concerns over the effectiveness of peace deals with armed groups after a commercial driver, identified as the grandson of a district head, was killed and nine other persons abducted in separate incidents along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road and within Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The slain driver, Mallam Ibrahim Adamu, was the grandson of one of the District Heads in the Birnin Gwari Emirate. A family relative confirmed the incident, describing it as another painful reminder of the persistent insecurity plaguing communities in the area.
According to the source, Ibrahim was attacked at Kwanan Giginya along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway when heavily armed men opened fire on his commercial vehicle. He was reportedly killed on the spot, while about five passengers travelling with him were abducted and taken into the bush by the attackers.
The killing has sent shockwaves through Birnin Gwari and surrounding communities, where residents say travellers continue to face constant threats despite repeated assurances that peace initiatives and negotiations with armed groups are yielding results.
In a separate attack, four farmers were kidnapped while working on their farmlands in the Kurgi area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. Sources said the victims were carrying out their routine farming activities when gunmen stormed the area and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
The latest incidents have further heightened fears among residents who accuse armed groups of operating freely across communities and major roads. Many argue that the continued killings, kidnappings and attacks cast serious doubt on claims that large numbers of bandits have genuinely embraced peace.
Community members alleged that beyond abductions and killings, armed groups frequently seize motorcycles, mobile phones, cash and other valuables from residents and travellers, leaving many communities economically crippled and living in fear.
The Kaduna–Birnin Gwari corridor has remained one of the state’s most dangerous routes, recording repeated attacks on commuters, farmers and rural dwellers despite ongoing security operations and reported peace agreements with some bandit factions.
Residents have appealed to security agencies to intensify patrols along the highway, deploy more personnel to vulnerable communities and farmlands, and take decisive action to halt the recurring attacks before more lives are lost.
As anxiety spreads across affected communities, many residents say the latest bloodshed raises troubling questions about the true impact of the government’s engagement with so-called repentant bandits, insisting that lasting peace can only be measured by the safety of lives and property on the ground.