By Adamu Yusuf
Bandits, in large numbers, have killed a local vigilante, Mustapha Baba, and abducted a woman and her son at Kyauta, Millennium City, in Kaduna State.
A brother of the deceased, Yusuf Baba, who confirmed the incident on his social media handle, said Mustapha Baba was shot by the bandits during the attack. He was rushed to Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, where he later died on Wednesday night.
The bandits reportedly attacked a house located near the popular Mai-Rago Friday Mosque in the area.
According to the family source, the attackers demanded to see the owner of the house but, after failing to find him, abducted his wife and son.
Radio Nigeria reports that the incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Kyauta and other communities within Millennium City.
A previous attack was reported at the Police Estate in Baban Saura, where five residents were reportedly abducted.
During a recent security meeting, residents of Millennium City appealed to the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to improve road access to some parts of the community as part of efforts to address insecurity.
The Chairman of the Millennium City Security, Development and Enhancement Forum and Chairman of Katukan Danhonu Community, Alhaji Abu Mohammed, said the stakeholders had identified the completion of the Eastern Bypass road project as a top priority, describing the abandoned road and bridge construction as a major challenge to effective security operations in the area.
The stakeholders urged the Federal Government to expedite work on the Eastern Bypass and complete the bridge to improve accessibility for security agencies, facilitate the movement of heavy-duty vehicles and ensure prompt emergency response to security threats.
They also called for the deployment of additional police and military personnel, as well as more sophisticated security equipment, to strengthen the capacity of security agencies to combat banditry and protect communities in the area.
Editing by Khadija Kubau