Bandits have killed seven members of a local vigilante group and abducted an unspecified number of residents during an attack on Kaura Namoda town in Zamfara State.

The attackers reportedly operated for more than three hours after entering the town through a riverine route at about midnight on Friday.

The Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Hon. Munnir Haidara, confirmed the killing of seven members of the Joint Task Force (JTF), saying the attackers struck two areas, including Kofar Zurmi and the Old market areas.

He said the local government had recruited residents into the security outfit and provided them with weapons to protect their communities.

The chairman added that some members of the outfit sustained injuries and were receiving treatment in hospitals.

Haidara said the council was still compiling data to establish the number of residents abducted during the attack.

“We don’t have the actual number of people abducted during yesterday’s attack. We are still gathering data, but we hope to get the exact figure between now and this evening,” he said.

However, a resident who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity said the number of abductees could exceed 30, adding that a relative of one of the victims had confirmed the abduction to him.

Another resident said the bandits exploited an alternative route near the river to enter the town, bypassing areas usually guarded by local vigilantes.

He explained that vigilantes normally maintained positions around the outskirts of the town, where they built local clay fortifications and sometimes remained on duty until about 3 a.m., firing warning shots to deter attackers.

According to him, the bandits adopted a different route during Friday’s attack, enabling them to enter the town directly.

He further alleged that the attackers blocked access routes while engaging the civilian JTF members in a prolonged gun battle, making it difficult for security personnel to advance into the affected areas for fear of ambush.

The resident said security operatives stationed along the road fired shots into the air but did not enter the area where the fighting was taking place.

He attributed the vigilantes’ disadvantage to their limited firepower, saying they relied mainly on pump-action guns and locally made weapons.

The resident also alleged that the attackers entered the house of an Islamic teacher, killed a young boy and abducted some of the cleric’s children.

Meanwhile, another resident alleged that the movement of security personnel and vigilantes to Kaduna State for the launch of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term campaign contributed to the community’s vulnerability.

“Almost all the security agencies, including the vigilantes, were transported to Kaduna for the campaign. Those left behind were mostly young boys, and the bandits took advantage of the situation to attack the town,” he said.

The resident said the figure of more than 15 abductees being circulated was based on preliminary information, adding that residents were still trying to establish the actual number.

However, Haidara dismissed reports that security personnel responsible for protecting Kaura Namoda had been taken to Kaduna for the political event.

He said those who travelled were political supporters and party stakeholders, not security operatives.

The chairman said he personally supervised the departure of those who travelled in 10 vehicles provided for the trip.

“I am the chairman of the local government, and I was the one who assigned the people transported in the 10 vehicles given to us to attend the campaign launch of President Tinubu.

“Everybody taken to Kaduna was a frontline political supporter. We did not take any security personnel,” he said.

Haidara questioned why the council would withdraw personnel responsible for protecting residents to attend a political event, insisting that the local government would not deliberately leave the town without security.

“We cannot take security personnel to a campaign launch when those people are responsible for protecting residents. If we take all of them away, do you expect us to leave the people without security?” he asked.

He maintained that no member of the local security outfit was among those transported to Kaduna. (Weekend Trust)