By Erestinah Jane, July 6, 2026
At least nine farmers have been killed in a retaliatory attack by armed gunmen in Nigeria’s Kaduna State, highlighting the persistent insecurity facing rural communities in the country’s northwest.
The attack occurred on Saturday near Kakangi village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, where gunmen riding motorcycles stormed farmlands and opened fire on farmers working in their fields.
According to local sources and a United Nations security report, the assault was carried out in retaliation after local farmers reportedly killed a suspected bandit earlier the same day while resisting an attempted motorcycle robbery.
Residents said the surviving members of the criminal gang later returned with heavily armed reinforcements and launched the deadly attack on the farming community.
Authorities have confirmed that at least nine bodies were recovered following the incident, although some community leaders believe the death toll may have risen to ten as search efforts continue.
Several farmers were also abducted during the raid. Local vigilante groups have since launched search-and-rescue operations in nearby forests in an effort to locate the missing victims.
The latest killings underscore the fragile security situation in Birnin Gwari despite a peace agreement signed in November 2024 between local authorities and armed groups aimed at reducing violence in the area.
Last month, another attack by suspected bandits in nearby Danauta village left six people dead and at least 20 others kidnapped, raising fresh concerns over the effectiveness of ongoing security measures.
Bandit groups operating across northwestern and central Nigeria are known for carrying out mass killings, kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities. During the rainy season, when farming activities intensify, these groups frequently target villages, extort farmers through illegal levies, and retaliate against communities that resist their demands.
Security agencies have continued operations against the criminal networks, but vast forests and difficult terrain have made it challenging to completely dismantle the armed groups, leaving thousands of rural residents vulnerable to repeated attacks.
