PANIC has engulfed Ungwan Nungu community in Bokana Ward of Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State, after gunmen abducted 11 farmers on Saturday evening as they made their way home from their farmlands.
News Point Nigeria reports that the victims, mostly young villagers returning from harvesting beans, were intercepted along a remote bush path and forcefully taken to an unknown location.
Eyewitnesses said the attack occurred just before sunset, throwing the community into chaos.
According to residents, the attackers initially targeted about 15 people. Several farmers managed to flee, while a few others were released shortly after the ambush. However, 11 villagers—some of them teenagers—remain in captivity.
A local source who spoke under anonymity told our correspondent that the kidnappers have since demanded a ransom of ₦5 million.
“Those taken were returning from the farm when the bandits suddenly appeared. Everyone ran, but 11 people were caught. The kidnappers have called, asking for ₦5 million before they will release them,” he said.
The abduction has heightened fears in neighbouring communities, where residents spent the night in distress, unsure of the safety of their relatives. The incident adds to the series of attacks that rural communities in Southern Kaduna have faced in recent months.
Reacting to the development, the member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Daniel Amos, condemned the attack in strong terms.
“This act is cruel and senseless. Targeting innocent, hardworking farmers who are simply trying to make a living is unacceptable and must never be tolerated,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Hon. Amos appealed for calm, urging residents of Ungwan Nungu, Bokana Ward and the wider Sanga axis to remain vigilant and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
He also called on security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, stressing that rural communities must not be left at the mercy of armed criminals.
“We expect intensified surveillance, intelligence-driven operations and a swift, coordinated response that will reassure our people of their safety,” he said.
As at the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.