Anxiety In Kaduna Following Fresh Bandit Attack In Rigachikun
At least 20 bandits were involved in the attack on the Northwest Nigeria community, before being thwarted by residents and security forces.
Residents of Rigachikun in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, are still in trauma after no less than 20 armed bandits stormed the community.
HumAngle exclusively reports that the bandits, dressed in black clothing, came on motorcycles at about 12:30 p.m. WAT on Monday and began shooting sporadically.
They faced resistance from the community residents who were later joined by a combined military and police response team.
Eyewitnesses report that while some bandits were shooting, some of them scaled the fence of a building and abducted a middle-aged woman (name withheld).
A source told HumAngle that the woman was dragged into the forest where another group tried to buy her off before they were scared away following a shootout by security forces.
He said, “they withdrew to the forest area with their victim and a different group tried to offer a price to take over custody. It was later discovered that bandits concealed their military-grade assault rifles in bags.
“The woman was eventually rescued by the police but she was able to recognise a few community members who were part of the bandits’ informants.”
While the security forces could stop the attack, some bandits fled and one was left injured from the scuffle.
Following the attack, residents are anxious about their safety and remain fearful that the bandits might return to avenge their injured colleague.
HumAngle reports that in 2019, Rigachikun was one of the 17 communities displaced by bandits in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
For about five years, the community has been involved in banditry attacks that have steadily increased each year.
A local vigilante group, ‘Kato da gora’, has stepped up to fill the security vacuum in the community. They are one of several vigilante groups doing their bit to augment the security inadequacies in response to the spike in attacks.
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