Residents of Ungwan Nungu in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State are on edge after terrorists issued fresh threats of retaliatory attacks in the wake of a military operation that killed two fighters and led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and roughly ₦1.6 million believed to be ransom money.
Community members told SaharaReporters that ten villagers, six women and four men, were abducted from their farms on November 29, the latest in a string of attacks that have turned routine farm work into a high-risk venture. In an earlier assault, at least 15 people, mostly children, were kidnapped, with several later abandoned because they were too weak to keep up with the captors.
A Hausa-language audio message obtained by SaharaReporters reveals a militant vowing revenge, accusing locals of tipping off soldiers who later ambushed the gang during a ransom-collection attempt.
“We have ‘entered the same trousers’ with you,” the speaker warned, swearing that the group would “repay” the community for the loss of their men and their rifle.
According to residents, troops intercepted the terrorists on Friday as they attempted to retrieve ransom payment from relatives of kidnapped villagers. The military recovered the rifle, one round of 9mm ammunition, and cash believed to be meant for the abductors.
But the militants now claim the seized weapon must be paid for, or the entire community will face widespread assaults.
“From the farms to the villages to the roads, we will be attacking you unless you pay for the rifle,” the speaker said, vowing that the group would return “after we have fully prepared.” He warned of mounting casualties if their demands were not met: “Because of that rifle, only God knows how many lives will be lost.”
A community negotiator, also heard on the recording, pleaded that residents had no role in the military operation. He said soldiers had confronted the villagers, accusing them of hiding information about ransom negotiations. “The Nigerian military is angry because yesterday we took money to deliver to you and we did not inform them,” he said.
For residents of Ungwan Nungu, the threats feel chillingly real. With militants naming farms, roads, and villages as targets, civilians say they remain largely unprotected, despite increased military activity in the region.
A Nation Still Reeling From Another Mass Abduction
The Kaduna threats come as Nigeria grapples with the national trauma of one of its worst school kidnappings in years: more than 250 children from St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in Niger State remain missing two weeks after gunmen stormed their dormitories and marched them into the bush.
Parents say they have received no updates, no ransom demands, and no proof of life.
“We are not happy with what is happening,” said farmer Sunday Gbazali, whose 14-year-old son was taken on November 21. “I never knew the pain until it happened to me… We don’t know if he is sick, healthy, or even alive.”
Another parent, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, said hope is fading despite assurances from national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu. “Unfortunately, days have passed, and we are left with little hope,” he said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that 303 children and 12 staff were abducted, though about 50 pupils escaped in the immediate aftermath. Some of the missing children are as young as six years old. Their school was guarded only by unarmed volunteers who fled when the attackers arrived.
The mass abduction has drawn international scrutiny, reviving painful memories of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping and raising new questions about government preparedness. President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency and ordered the recruitment of thousands of additional military and police personnel in a bid to stem the escalating violence.
Ribadu told Catholic leaders in Kontagora that “the children are doing fine and will be back soon,” though no independent verification has been provided.
