Gunmen attack Kaduna maternity hospital, kill 1, abduct 12

Terrorists have launched a violent attack on Kujama, the headquarters of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State, resulting in at least one death and the kidnapping of 12 people, including patients from a maternity hospital.

According to Masud Gora, a resident of the town who shared the information on Facebook, the attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.

The assailants targeted Nasara Nursing and Maternity Home, abducting a health practitioner identified as Ibrahim, the hospital guard, and five patients, among whom were a nine-month pregnant woman, a nursing mother, and her baby.

They also invaded other houses, kidnapping families.

Mr Gora said the terrorists abducted one Alhaji Abdulkadir, his two wives and daughter.

“They also kidnapped Alhassan Tipa and his wife,” he posted.

Falal Ango, another Facebook user, confirmed the incident.

“Gunmen attacked the town of Kujama in Chikun local government where they took away people including a pregnant woman who was about to give birth and killed a young man,” he wrote.

The police in Kaduna have not confirmed the attack. The command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, did not respond to an inquiry by our reporter.

Violence amid peace deals
Nearly 500 people have been killed and more than 1,700 others kidnapped in the past two years.

Governor Uba Sani believes that the war against banditry cannot be won by military means alone and has advocated peace deals with terrorists.

In January, Mr Sani told BBC Hausa that a peace pact facilitated with the support of traditional rulers and religious leaders resulted in the unconditional release of 200 kidnapped victims. The governor claimed that there was no money involved in the pact.

But despite the peace deal, violent attacks persist in Kaduna.

In minerals-rich Birnin Gwari where a peace deal with terrorists was codenamed ‘Birnin Gwari Model’, the terrorists continued to unleash terror on local communities.

A clash between a bandits group and artisanal miners claimed 17 lives in Birnin Gwari. The clash which began on 16 October and continued until the following day, erupted when the miners resisted the terrorists’ attempt to extort gold from them.

The miners killed the gang leader in the process. In retaliation, the terrorists stormed their mining site, killing seven.

Subsequently, terrorists invaded Layin Danauta village where the miners hailed from, killing nine people and injuring 13 others. They also kidnapped other people and destroyed property.

Last Friday, terrorists attacked the divisional police headquarters in Zonkwa town, the headquarters of Zangon Kataf LGA, killing two police officers, according to Sahara Reporters.

In a night attack on 19 October, bandits invaded Idijiyi Unguwan Danladi Village in Kallah District, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing one person and injuring others.