But a Pastor is Slain, 8 captives Marched Into Forest
By Luka Binniyat
(Kaduna City) Exclusive to TruthNigeria–The crucifixion of the Christian Adara tribe in Kaduna State took another bad turn early Wednesday when 39 unarmed people were pulled from their homes by Fulani Ethnic Militia, TruthNigeria has learned. Ten Fulani terrorists were armed with AK47 assault rifles, witnesses said.
Yet, a prompt alarm from locals brought volunteer guards with homemade shotguns who confronted them, causing the kidnappers to let 30 hostages go. “Tragically, the bandits managed to escape with nine hostages, said Alipirinn Ado, 54, Chairman of the Kajuru County Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.
“In vengeance, they shot dead a pastor who was among the hostages that couldn’t escape,” Ado told TruthNigeria.
Several bloody massacres of Adara people were reported during
the last 11 years, according to Ado.
The kidnapping of eight Christians on Wednesday night in Maraban Kajuru, Kajuru County, Southern Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria, has led TruthNigeria to uncover the heinous crimes committed against the Christian Adara natives of Kajuru County over the past year.
8 Stealthily Kidnapped
Maraban Kajuru is a small town divided in half by the Kaduna-Kachia Expressway, about 35 miles south of Kaduna metropolis.
In the early hours of Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 10 armed militia stealthily invaded Unguwan Mulki, a village in the easternmost part of Maraban Kajuru town, Mr. Ado spoke exclusively to TruthNigeria in Kaduna on Wednesday.
“They used axes, diggers, cudgels, and machetes to break through walls, dragging out terrified victims who were forced to lie face down,” he said.
“They were going from compound to compound until one young man managed to raise the alarm,” added Ado, who has been involved in humanitarian services for the Adara people since 2014.
According to him, once the alarm was raised, volunteer guards rushed to Unguwan Mulki and engaged the kidnappers, who were identified as Fulani ethnic militia.
“They freed about 30 captives, but the terrorists escaped with eight persons—three elderly people and five women,” he said.
“They have yet to make contact with anyone before I came for this interview,” he added.
A Grim Record of Atrocities
Ado is responsible for documenting the atrocities inflicted upon the predominantly Christian Adara ethnic group since the violence initiated by Fulani ethnic militia began in 2014.
Through carefully kept and tabulated records, Ado showed TruthNigeria that between 2024 and February 2025, there had been approximately 90 attacks on 65 communities, resulting in the deaths of 187 people.
“I am unable to keep track of the exact number of kidnapped persons during this period, but I can assure you that over 1,000 people may have been kidnapped between last year and February this year,” he said.
“From my records, we have documented 768 kidnappings in Kajuru County alone within that period,” he stated.
“The worst case of kidnapping occurred in Rimau village, Rimau Ward, where 91 persons were abducted in one night in July 2024,” he revealed.
A Daring Rescue
“On the night of September 9, 2024, bandits attacked Kallah village, a rich farming community, and kidnapped 86 people after unleashing terror on the village,” Ado told TruthNigeria.
While the invasion was ongoing, some residents managed to contact the youths of Afogo village, about five miles east of Kallah.
“The youths knew the route the terrorists would take, so they set up an ambush,” he said.
“When the terrorists arrived with their captives, who were carrying looted foodstuffs and other valuables, the youths of Afogo opened fire with their homemade shotguns,” he said.
The terrorists scattered in different directions, abandoning their captives.
Ransom Paid
Regarding the ransom paid between last year and February this year, Ado said, “This is an area that many families are unwilling to disclose, so the records are incomplete.”
“But based on our estimates, no less than N300 million ($200,000) has been paid—a staggering amount in a country where the monthly minimum wage is $30.”
“That’s not all,” he continued.
“Not less than 300 ‘Bajaj’ motorcycles—rugged, Chinese-made bikes—have been handed over to these bandits as part of ransom payments between last year and February this year.”
“Each of them costs about N1.4 million ($800),” he added.
IDP Numbers Hit 10,000
According to Ado, there are more than 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Maraban Kajuru alone.
“We have over 10,000 IDPs in Maraban Kajuru alone, each with a harrowing story to tell,” he said.
“We don’t have a formal IDP camp, so victims are forced to shelter in schools, unfinished buildings, and with kindhearted families,” he explained.
Government Response
A Kaduna State House of Assembly member representing the Kajuru State Constituency confirmed the ongoing tragedy in Kajuru County to TruthNigeria.
“I can assure you that since Governor Nasir El-Rufai took office from 2015 to 2023, Kajuru has never known peace,” he said.
“Our people have been kidnapped in their thousands, hundreds have been killed, and scores of communities have been sacked and taken over by these bandits,” he lamented.
According to him, while mass killings have dropped off, the kidnapping of Adara natives for ransom continues unabated.
“We are working very hard in collaboration with other stakeholders to put an end to this wickedness and bring these evil people to justice,” he said.
Luka Binniyat is a prize-winning conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
