A deadly wave of violence has swept through Kajuru and Igabi LGAs of Kaduna State after suspected cattle rustlers stormed Gwaraje village and escaped with over 200 cows, triggering a violent chain reaction that left at least three people dead and several others injured.
The attackers, heavily armed, were said to have launched the raid on Gwaraje on Saturday night before passing through Kadanya and Anguwan Mairijya. As they moved, gunshots rang out—killing a 35-year-old woman, Rahila Danzaria, in Kadanya. Multiple witnesses confirmed she was hit by stray bullets while attempting to flee the gunfire.
The situation escalated when two men from Gwaraje, identified as Musa Husaini and Muntari Tajo, were reportedly pursuing the rustlers in a desperate attempt to recover the stolen livestock. Upon entering Anguwan Mairijya, they were allegedly mistaken for collaborators and attacked by a mob, who beat them unconscious before security operatives intervened.
Sources revealed that fear and tension have gripped the local communities, with residents avoiding public commentary out of concern for reprisal or community blame. The silence has complicated the work of law enforcement officials trying to piece together the full timeline and motives behind the attack.
Security forces have invited two traditional rulers—Sarkin Kadanya, Obi Mairuwa, and Sarkin Anguwan, Samaila Gado—for questioning. Both are currently in custody, assisting investigators in unravelling the circumstances surrounding the incident. While no formal charges have been filed, the involvement of community leadership has added a new layer to the already volatile situation.
Authorities say a man identified as Samaila Danzaria of Anguwan Mairijya has been named a primary suspect. He is currently on the run, and a manhunt is underway. Police and vigilante units have intensified patrols across the affected villages, hoping to track the rustlers, recover the stolen cattle, and restore calm.
The Kaduna State government has not yet issued an official statement on the incident, but human rights groups have renewed calls for urgent intervention in rural communities vulnerable to livestock-related conflict, mob justice, and retaliatory attacks.
