At least nine farmers were killed and several others kidnapped after bandits stormed farmlands on the outskirts of Kakangi village in Kaduna State's Birnin Gwari district on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The attack, described as a revenge operation, occurred when gunmen swept into the fields and opened fire on farmers while they were working.
Security Report Confirms Death Toll
A security report prepared for the United Nations and seen by AFP confirmed that nine bodies were recovered from the scene, with six of them identified by local authorities. Kabiru Ishaq, a community leader in Birnin Gwari who travelled to the village to pay his condolences, put the number of dead at ten and said several others were kidnapped.
According to both the security report and Ishaq, the raid was motivated by retaliation. Earlier on the same day, farmers had killed a bandit during a failed robbery attempt. The attacker's accomplice subsequently gathered reinforcements and launched an assault on the community.
Persistent Violence Despite Peace Deal
Birnin Gwari district, located roughly 60 kilometres from Kaduna's capital, has faced a persistent pattern of such attacks despite a peace deal brokered by local authorities in November 2024 between farming communities and bandit groups. The agreement has done little to stem the violence. Last month, at least six farmers were killed and 20 others abducted in a similar raid on Danauta village within the same district.
The attack in Kakangi falls within a broader surge in violence that typically intensifies during the annual rainy season, when farmers are most active in their fields. Across northern and central Nigeria, criminal gangs and jihadist groups have routinely imposed levies on farming communities, launching raids on villages that refuse to comply. These attacks frequently involve killings, kidnappings for ransom, looting, and the burning of homes.
Kaduna Among Most Affected States
Kaduna State remains among the most affected states in the country, with Birnin Gwari district in particular recording some of the heaviest losses in recent years. The latest incident underscores the ongoing security challenges facing farming communities in northern Nigeria, where banditry has become a persistent threat to livelihoods and lives.
