The latest attack on Akwando community in Kaduna State has left two people dead and 20 others abducted, raising fresh concerns over repeated violence and displacement in Kuturmi communities.
The Kuturmi Unity Development Association (KUDA), which disclosed this in a statement dated November 5, called on the Federal and Kaduna State Governments to urgently strengthen security in the affected communities.
The association said the attack in Akwando, a community in Kachia Local Government Area, came amid lingering security challenges in Ariko and Awon, where residents had also suffered killings and abductions.
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It recalled that an attack on Ariko on Easter Sunday reportedly killed five people at the scene, while another 17 victims later died in captivity.
KUDA also said two people were killed and 11 abducted during a recent attack on Awon. Of those abducted, five regained their freedom on November 3, 2026, but one reportedly died a day later. Another victim escaped, while five others died in captivity.
The association said the repeated attacks had forced some residents to abandon their homes and farmlands, disrupted livelihoods and left families in fear and uncertainty.
It also raised concerns over reports that armed groups were restricting access to ancestral lands and demanding payments from residents before they could cultivate their farms or harvest their produce.
KUDA insisted that Nigerians should not be subjected to intimidation or extortion while accessing their legitimate sources of livelihood or exercising their rights over ancestral lands.
The group, however, stressed that its concerns were not conclusive findings against any individual or group, urging independent and impartial investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the attacks and identify those responsible.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, the association said protecting lives and property remained a fundamental responsibility of government.
It called for the immediate deployment of adequately equipped security personnel to Akwando, Ariko, Awon and other vulnerable communities, as well as intelligence-led operations to secure the release of those still held captive.
Other demands include the prosecution of those responsible for the attacks, protection of ancestral lands and farmlands, regular security patrols and the establishment of strategic security posts.
KUDA also urged the authorities to provide humanitarian assistance to affected families, survivors and displaced residents.
It called for high-level talks between the Federal and Kaduna State Governments and representatives of the affected communities to identify security gaps and develop a lasting response.
The association said it would continue to pursue its demands through lawful and peaceful means, warning that residents should not be left exposed to threats to their safety, livelihoods and ancestral heritage.
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