NIGERIA: Bandits have shot dead two girls, identified as Abidat Habibu and Rabiatu Ummi, who were among 14 victims abducted in Janjala community, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The victims had been in captivity since March 1, 2026.
Abidat Habibu Rabiatu Umm
A vigilante member, his wife, and 12 others were abducted on Saturday, March 1, 2026, in the Janjala community. The bandits had demanded a ransom of N14 million for their release.
A reliable source from the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the killing of the two girls in a telephone interview with our reporter on Sunday.
According to the source, despite the victims’ families raising N13 million after selling valuable properties, the bandits killed two of the captives. The remaining women were released, while all adult male victims are still being held.
The source added that the families were informed of the killings after delivering the ransom at a location near the Hayin Dam forest in neighbouring Kachia Local Government Area on Saturday.
He further revealed that the two girls were allegedly killed for resisting attempts by some of the bandits to sexually assault them.
“As the girls refused to submit to the bandits’ attempts to rape them, the bandits’ leader ordered that they be shot on the spot,” he said.
The source also disclosed that a mediator, who facilitated communication between the families and the bandits, was informed of the killings when he went to receive the freed women.
Meanwhile, the bandits have reportedly refused to release the remaining male victims, insisting that the balance of N1 million be paid, along with food supplies.
A security source also confirmed the killing of the two girls among the abducted victims, though he said further details were still being awaited.
Similarly, a community leader in the area corroborated the incident.
“In fact, it was this afternoon that one of the victims’ family members called to inform us that two of the girls had been killed,” he said.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time of filing this report.
