One of the students of the institution, Ibrahim Ahmad, disclosed that one of the abducted students had managed to escape, leaving three male and three female students still in captivity.

Meanwhile, a group known as the Concerned Citizens of Kaura Namoda expressed alarm over what it described as the worsening security situation in the area, allegedly perpetrated by a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Bello Dansadiya, and his gang.

In a statement, the group recalled previous incidents, including the abduction of two senior lecturers who were held captive for more than two months despite the payment of ransom.

It also cited the kidnapping of three residents and a district head from his residence located near a military base.

“Alarmingly, all these victims are reportedly still being held in a well-known bandit camp around Dajin Yamma, yet no rescue operations have taken place. Where are the fighter jets and armoured vehicles?” the group queried.

The Zamfara State Police Command also confirmed the abduction, saying security operatives had intensified efforts to rescue the victims.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the incident occurred at the students’ residence on the outskirts of the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namoda.

He confirmed that one of the victims escaped, while efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining six students.

According to him, the institution itself remains well secured.

“The school premises have been fortified with adequate security personnel, making it extremely difficult for bandits to penetrate,” he said.

Explaining how the incident happened, Abubakar said one of the students reportedly stepped outside at night to relieve himself and inadvertently left the door open.

“One of the students went outside during the night, claiming he wanted to urinate. In the process, he left the door open. Coincidentally, bandits passing through the area entered the house and abducted the students,” he said.

The police spokesperson added that members of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, had launched a coordinated rescue operation.

“Our VCRU personnel, together with troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, are working to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students,” Abubakar said.

-Source: Daily Trust

A former chairman of Baruten Local Government, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, said preliminary accounts indicated that the attack occurred around 9 a.m. while Quranic lessons were ongoing within the cleric’s compound.

He said the cleric was rushed to hospital but later died from the injuries sustained in the attack, adding that the suspect was later lynched.

Ibrahim added that the suspect was apprehended and taken into police custody before events escalated, leading to mob action and wider unrest within the community.

The Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, Alhaji Halidu Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a chat with Daily Trust.

He said traditional and religious leaders immediately intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“One man went and killed a prominent Islamic cleric, Alfa Ilyas, with a cutlass. Nobody really knows what transpired between them before the attack,” the monarch said, adding that they later appealed to the youths over the matter.

The emir, however, acknowledged that despite the appeals, some angry youths allegedly attacked properties belonging to some residents before security operatives restored order.

But the Seriki Fulani of Ilesha-Baruba, Ardo Muhammed Abdullahi, alleged that the violence extended beyond the suspect and affected innocent residents.

Abdullahi claimed that the suspected attacker, identified only as Seke, popularly known as “Boso,” was a labourer known within the community and had previously been involved in disputes over unpaid wages.

“Only God knows what happened between him and Alfa Iliasu, but it appears there may have been a disagreement. He entered the cleric’s house and attacked him before trying to escape,” he said.

According to the Fulani leader, the suspect was initially apprehended by residents and taken to a police station before a mob allegedly overpowered security personnel, removed him from custody and lynched him.

He alleged that the violence later spread to other residents who had no connection to the attack.

“They burnt my three houses completely, including those belonging to members of my family. My wife and children narrowly escaped. As I speak, two of my children are still missing and I do not know whether they are alive or dead,” he said.

Abdullahi further claimed that several people were killed during the unrest and warned that failure to address the situation could heighten tensions between communities that have coexisted for decades.

He said he had reported the incident to security agencies and expressed disappointment that properties belonging to individuals he described as long-standing contributors to peace and security in the area were targeted.

The Fulani leader also disclosed plans to relocate from the community, citing concerns over the safety of his family and property

He said he travelled to Australia to spend time with his family, but was met with a painful reality as his wife had become extremely weak due to cancer.

He explained that she was no longer able to speak or carry out basic daily activities. According to him, the woman who once welcomed him at the airport could no longer do so, and he had to make his way from the airport by Uber.

He also described how roles had reversed in the home, saying he now had to take care of her, including cooking for her, as she could no longer do so herself. He added that he spent time beside her, singing her favourite songs, while she responded only by holding his hand.

In his emotional reflection, he also spoke about life and wealth, stressing that money and material possessions could not stop illness or death, and questioned the actions of those who use public office to take what belongs to others.