Gunmen abduct schoolgirls in Kaduna ambush, exposing rising insecurity along Akwando–Kachia road and threats to student safety.
Newsroom (05/05/2026 Gaudium Press) Armed attackers abducted several Christian schoolgirls traveling to school in Kachia Local Government Area on April 26, in an ambush that underscores growing insecurity along a key rural route in Southern Kaduna.
According to field reporting by TruthNigeria, the students were traveling from Akwando village to Kachia town when gunmen intercepted their vehicle less than ten minutes into the journey. The attack occurred shortly after schools in the area had reopened, marking a return to routine that was abruptly disrupted by violence.
Local sources said the driver attempted to evade the attackers, but the gunmen opened fire, forcing the vehicle to a halt. Several passengers were then taken into the surrounding bush.
Those reported abducted include Augustina Muntari and Happy Muntari, both students at GSS Gumel; Favour Tanimu and Patience Joseph of GSS Kachia; Peace Irimiya and Bishara Irimiya of St. John’s School, Kachia; Irimiya Galadima, the driver; as well as Fatu Danladi and Laraba Caleb.
One student, identified as Purity Babangida, was killed while attempting to escape during the attack. Witnesses reported that at least 15 other students managed to flee by jumping from the vehicle. They later reached nearby communities, including Awon village, after trekking for several hours through the bush.
TruthNigeria data indicates that the ambush is part of a broader pattern of attacks along the Akwando–Kachia corridor. Since January 2026, at least seven separate incidents have been recorded on the route, targeting commercial vehicles, private transport, and motorcycles.
While this marks the first documented case this year in which schoolchildren traveling the road were specifically targeted, attacks involving students and educational institutions are not new to Southern Kaduna. In 2021, more than 100 students were abducted from a secondary school in Chikun Local Government Area.
Residents in Kachia and surrounding communities describe the road as increasingly dangerous, particularly for students who rely on shared transport due to long travel distances and limited access to boarding facilities.
Education officials and community leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of insecurity on school attendance, especially among girls. Local advocacy groups report that ongoing attacks and kidnappings have disrupted education, with some families withdrawing their children from school over safety fears.
As search efforts continue, families of the abducted students remain without answers. Local volunteers and security actors are actively working to locate the victims, but uncertainty persists in communities already grappling with the consequences of repeated violence.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Zenit News
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