Terrorists in local security contexts, have killed Mallam Bello Abubakar, an assistant imam and respected Quranic scholar, in a violent attack on Layin Danauta village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident occurred earlier today, amid a surge in insecurity that continues to plague communities in Nigeria’s northwest despite previous peace initiatives.
According to reports from local sources, the assailants targeted the community in what appears to have been a targeted or opportunistic raid.
Mallam Bello Abubakar, who served as an assistant imam and was known for his dedication to Islamic education and community guidance, was fatally shot during the assault.
In addition to the killing, the bandits abducted seven other residents, who remain in captivity as of this evening.
No further details have emerged regarding the identities of the abducted individuals or any ransom demands, though such patterns are common in the region’s banditry-related incidents.
The victim’s brother, Abdullah Birnin Gwari, has publicly appealed for immediate and decisive intervention by federal and state security agencies, as well as the Kaduna State government.
He described the killing of a religious figure as particularly egregious, highlighting the attackers’ disregard for community leaders and moral authority.
Birnin Gwari has long been one of the epicenters of banditry in northern Nigeria.
The area, rich in mineral resources including gold, has witnessed repeated clashes involving armed groups, illegal miners, kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, and deadly raids on villages.
Despite a widely publicized peace agreement brokered in late 2024 between local authorities, traditional leaders, and some bandit factions—which led to a temporary reduction in violence—attacks have persisted and, in recent months, intensified in parts of Kaduna and neighboring states.
Layin Danauta village itself has featured in prior security reports, including deadly raids in 2025 where bandits surrounded the community, blocked escape routes, killed multiple residents, wounded others, and abducted villagers before withdrawing into surrounding forests.
This latest tragedy has reignited local outrage and calls for stronger military presence, better intelligence, and sustained operations against bandit strongholds in the region’s vast ungoverned forests.
Residents and community leaders have repeatedly expressed frustration over delayed security responses and the apparent impunity enjoyed by many armed groups.
As night falls in Kaduna State, the fate of the seven captives hangs in the balance, with fears mounting that they could face similar violence if ransom negotiations falter or security forces fail to mount a swift rescue.
Authorities in Kaduna have not yet issued an official statement on the incident at the time of this report.
Security analysts warn that continued attacks on religious and community figures risk further eroding social cohesion in already vulnerable rural areas.
