INSECURITY IN KADUNA: Bandits kill ex-LG boss, others in fresh attack after govt receives 204 abductees

BY GABRIEL IDIBIA

It was a mixed grill in Kaduna as terror was once again unleashed on the citizens even as joy was in the air as 204 abductees previously in the camp of terrorists were released to reunite with their families.

The handover ceremony held at the State Shelter Home in Katuru Road, Kaduna, Thursday was presided over by the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe on behalf of Governor Uba Sani.

Accordingly, the event marked a significant milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to restore security and hope to communities ravaged by abductions.

The survivors mostly female, and predominantly from Tudun Wali in Kajuru Local Government Areas, with others from Chikun, Igabi, and Kachia LGA, had spent weeks in captivity before being freed.

Among them were the Kurmin Wali worshippers abducted on 18 January 2026, who endured 18 harrowing days in the hands of their captors.

After their rescue, the victims received comprehensive medical and psychosocial care at the state’s shelter facility, ensuring they were physically and emotionally prepared for reintegration.

The deputy Governor, Dr. Balarabe expressed deep joy at seeing the survivors return to their communities, assuring them of sustained government support as they reunite with their families and rebuild their lives.

“Today, we celebrate not just their freedom, but their resilience and the collective effort of our security agencies, community leaders, and government officials who worked tirelessly to bring them home,” she said.

She emphasized that the state government remains committed to providing ongoing assistance, including counseling, livelihood support, and security guarantees.

The handover ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sani Liman Kila; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Rabi Salisu; Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shuaibu (SAN); and other government representatives.

Their presence underscored the importance of interagency collaboration in addressing security challenges and supporting victims of violence.

Local government chairmen played a central role in receiving the survivors. Kajuru Chairman Dauda Madaki, Igabi Chairman Sani Abdulahi Zangon Aya, Chikun Chairman Salasi Musa, and Kachia Vice Chairman were all present to welcome their constituents back. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude to see our people return safely.

The celebration was however bruised when bandits launched a deadly attacked on official vehicles conveying Kajuru LG council chairman, his predecessor and several others, killing the ex-council chairman Ibrahim Gajere and several others in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna state.

The incident has sparked up wide spread condemnations and suspicion about the circumstances surrounding the attacked.

Civil rights Activist and chieftain of the ruling party Hon. Isa Dansalla has described the attacked as an assassination of the ex-council boss, Hon. Ibrahim Gajere.

Hon. Isa Dansalla told our reporter on phone that the victim Hon. Gajere was assassinated in an incident which occurred Monday when the victim and several others were retuning back from the village after burial of the late father of a Kaduna State Assembly member, Hon. Single Usman.

He said the serving council chairman Hon. Dauda Magaji, persuaded the former council chairman, Ibrahim Gajere to attend the burial ceremony of the State lawmaker’s father in a village known for insecurity.

According to Hon. Dansalla, the current council chairman Hon. Madaki persuade Hon. Gajere, were both brought up in same family of the victim.

According to him, Gajere earlier declined interest for fear of his security but later agreed and travelled with the chairman’s official vehicles in his entourage.

Hon. Dansalla further stated that the chairman’s car was attacked by the alleged bandits on their way back from the village when the former council chairman and others were attacked and brutality shot dead, but the current council chairman miraculously escaped from vehicles that we’re all burnt to ashes due to the attack by the assailants.

Narrating the ugly incident to our reporter on phone, Hon. Dansalla who hailed from the village stated that, “Yes, I happened to come across a post, a YouTube post about the sudden death of a former chairman of Kajuru local government, Ibrahim Gajere, and wanted to buttress that point.

“I was chairman of the APC in Kajuru. After my time, I have had several successors including the present chairman who happens to be Honorable Dauda Madaki

“But the former chairman who happens to be Hon. Ibrahim Gajere was assassinated by an un-known gunmen on Monday, last Monday.

“And the incidents happen this way. The state Assembly member of our local government, who happens to be Hon. Single Usman’s father died, and he insisted that the burial must be done in the remote village troubling with alots of insecurity.

“When he insisted, people have no choice. And you know, in the northern tradition, when somebody is in a political position like that, people want to avail themselves.

“Then, this Ibrahim Gajere, who happens to be the former elected local government council chairman, was contacted and he told the people that contacted him that he cannot go there because of his security.

“So the present local government chairman, who happens to be Hon, Dauda Madaki contacted him, and this person happened to have been brought up in their family house.

“He is the one that recommended Hon. Madaki to be a local government chairman to the executive Governor, Senator Uba Sani.

“He was brought up in the house of the other former chairman Gajere, and Gajere was the one that got him to the limelight.

“Do you remember the controversial chairman, the local government chairman, that said that Kurmin Wali people were not kidnapped? Is the same for the water channel we’re talking about.

“He now called the former chairman, who happened to be his political God father. He was brought up in their family house of Gajere.

“He was the one that has promoted him to the Governor to become a chairman. He now invited the Gajere, and say now that people invited to go to the burial of the father of our Assembly member, are there and say your

are not going to go because of on insecurity?

“Sr, I bet your indulgent, we’ve insecurity, please I’m coming to peak you with our official cars sir. Let’s go for the burial sir. And the man complied, and followed him.

“They went for the burial sir. To my greatest surprise, the honorable member of State House of Assembly, Single Usman who is bereaved, packed his family and brought them back to the Kaduna city, urban city.

“He himself did not go to the burial and was not there with his family but allow other people to go there for the burial. He was not there with his family sir”, he lamented.