Kaduna: 9 Abducted, 1 Dies As Bandits Intercept Vehicle With Schoolchildren

Suspected bandits have attacked a vehicle conveying schoolchildren from Akwando village to Kachia, the headquarters of Kachia local government area of Kaduna State.

They abducted nine passengers while one girl died during the incident.

The public relations officer of Kuturmi Unity Development Association (KUDA), Manasseh Samuel, said the attack occurred at about 9 am on Sunday, less than 10 minutes after the vehicle departed Akwando for Kachia, where the children were expected to resume school following the reopening of schools.

He said about 25 passengers, including the driver, were travelling in an open vehicle when the attackers blocked the road about three kilometres from Akwando village.

According to him, the attackers opened fire, forcing the children to flee in different directions.

“Some of them managed to jump down and ran into nearby villages like Awon, while others returned to Akwando,” he said.

Samuel added that 15 passengers escaped by jumping from the vehicle and trekking through the bush for several hours before reaching safety in neighbouring communities.

He said a young girl, Purity Babangida, died during the chaos while attempting to escape.

“She was hit by a moving vehicle as everyone was running. It was not a direct attack on her, but she died in the confusion,” he said.

He further confirmed that nine persons were taken away by the attackers to an unknown destination, with no contact established as of the time of filing this report.

Samuel, however, gave the names of those abducted as Augustina Muntari (SS2, GSS Gumel), Happy Muntari (JS2, GSS Gumel), Favour Tanimu (JS2, GSS Kachia), Patience Joseph (JS2, GSS Kachia), Peace Irimiya and Bishara Irimiya (both of St. John’s School, Kachia), the driver, Irimiya Galadima, as well as Fatu Danladi and Laraba Caleb.

Also, former media adviser to late Kaduna state governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Reuben Buhari, who confirmed the attack on his Facebook page, said the vehicle was intercepted shortly after leaving Akwando village.

According to Buhari, despite efforts by the driver to escape, the attackers overpowered them and abducted nine children.

“Because most schools have resumed, children from Akwando village, Kachia LGA, were packed into a vehicle on Sunday, 26/04/2026, and were taken to Kachia so they could resume at their respective schools. Less than a 10-minute drive, armed bandits ambushed them on the road. Despite the driver’s efforts to escape, these schoolchildren were kidnapped”

Buhari added, “One girl, Purity Babangida, died while trying to escape. 15 students escaped after jumping from the truck and trekked for hours through the bush before reaching some villages, including Awon. Let’s pray for these schoolchildren,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to or return calls to his phone regarding the incident.