During Three-Hour Gun Battle Military Base Nearby Stands Down
By Mike Odeh James
(Kachia, Nigeria) They came at midnight early Thursday, guns blazing from 150 terrorist assault rifles met by scores of homemade shotguns fired by defenders of wives and children. After a three-hour firefight, a teen lay dead and four adults had been marched toward kidnapper hell in the forest, but a massacre had been averted.
In this ungoverned war zone in the southern edge of Kaduna State, ethnic terrorists shouting Allahu Akbar (God is Great!) reiterated a bloody rite of conquest that echoes in U.S. State Department country reports as “communal clashes.” But to 2,000 chiefly-Christian residents of Agunu Dutse in Kachia County, the raid was a gasping fight in pitch-black darkness to save hundreds from certain death.
The same militia later abducted three women in a nearby community while retreating toward the Rijana forest, residents told TruthNigeria. The attack, which villagers say lasted more than three hours, is the fourth assault on Agunu Dutse this year—deepening fear and grief across Southern Kaduna, a region long plagued by violent raids and mass displacement.
On Motorbikes, Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’
Grace Emmanuel, a 47-year-old farmer, was among those who survived the night. She recounts the chaos that erupted as the Fulani gunmen swept into Agunu Dutse around 12:15 a.m., firing into the air and into residential homes.
“The Fulani terrorists came on motorbikes, shouting Allahu Akbar while shooting into the air and into our houses,” she told TruthNigeria. “Most of the women ran into the bush. The men also ran but later gathered themselves and returned to the village.”
According to Emmanuel, the militants carried AK-47 rifles and moved in coordinated formations. Local volunteer guards armed only with locally fabricated pipe guns attempted to repel the attack.
“There was a shootout between the terrorists and the vigilante group (local volunteer guards) which lasted for over three hours,” she said. “Initially they kidnapped five people, but because of the resistance from the vigilante, they released four. Only one is still missing.”
She added that the attackers eventually retreated toward the Rijana forest—the same corridor frequently cited by analysts as a major hub for armed groups operating along the Kaduna–Abuja region.
One Killed, One Injured, One Missing
Her account was confirmed by 67-year-old village elder, Sanda Bulus, who identified the victim as 19-year-old student, Manaon Joseph.
“Manaon was caught in the crossfire and lost his life,” Bulus said. “Another youth, Bitrus Francis, sustained gunshot injuries. I don’t know whether he will survive.”
One villager, Bulus Ayuba, remains missing. “We presume the kidnappers took him,” the elder added. “The vigilantes are combing the surrounding bush, hoping they might find him.”
The violent raid forced many residents to flee into farmlands overnight, leaving the village deserted until dawn.
Military Base 400 Meters Away Ignored Calls
Perhaps the most disturbing detail, residents say, is the Nigerian military’s alleged failure to respond despite maintaining a base less than 400 meters from Agunu Dutse.
“There is a military base very close to us, not even up to 400 meters,” Bulus said. “We kept calling the base commandant, but he refused to answer. The soldiers could hear the gunshots from Agunu Dutse. Sometimes when they fire in their own base, we hear it here, yet they didn’t come.”
“If the military had shown up, we would have annihilated the terrorists,” he added.
The allegation echoes longstanding complaints from Southern Kaduna communities who say security forces routinely fail to intervene even when attacks unfold within earshot of their barracks.
Dan Taro Community Also Hit
As the Fulani terrorists withdrew from Agunu Dutse, they reportedly attacked Dan Taro, a neighboring community. Residents said the militia abducted three women and escaped with them toward the Rijana forest.
Agunu Dutse and Dan Taro are predominantly Adara communities, whose residents are more than 90 percent Christian.
Joshua Danladi, leader of the Agunu Dutse Vigilante Group, issued a fresh warning following the deadly raid.
The attack left 19-year-old Manaon Joseph dead and severely wounded Bitrus Francis, who is currently receiving treatment.
“This is the fourth attack on Agunu Dutse,” Danladi said. “Residents are exhausted and desperate for increased security presence and wider media attention to the escalating violence devastating the area.”
Region Under Siege
The attacks on Agunu Dutse and Dan Taro fit into a broader pattern of sustained violence in Southern Kaduna, where communities face recurring raids, kidnappings, and displacement. Many residents accuse security agencies of neglect, expressing frustration that heavily armed groups continue to move freely despite military checkpoints and formations along the corridor.
For Agunu Dutse, the tragedy of December 11 marks yet another painful chapter.
Ransom Payments: Over ₦531 Million Paid to Terrorists
TruthNigeria reports also document that villages such as Agunu Dutse, Maro, and Angwan Gurugu have suffered repeated attacks since 2015. An estimated ₦531,500,000 (more than $366,000) in ransom has been paid to terrorist-kidnappers across the region.
Breakdown of confirmed ransom payments:
- ₦81,000,000 ($56,000)– ransom for eight abducted villagers (Simon Nuhu + neighbors)
- ₦300,000,000 ($207,000) – cumulative ransom paid by Kusheka farmers (Nov 2024–Mar 2025)
- ₦136,000,000 ($94,000)– ransom paid by Kauru communities (Nov 2024–Feb 2025)
- ₦5,600,000 ($3,900) – ransom for Christopher Barnabas
- ₦2,500,000 ($$1,722) – ransom for Joshua Maude
- ₦1,500,000 – ($1,033) contribution by Barnabas’ friend
- ₦400,000 ($275)– part-payment for Maureen Mica
- ₦5,000,000 ($3,443)– ransom for Chief Amos Galadima (2021)
Total: ₦531,500,000
Dollar equivalent (₦1,450.7 = $1): ≈ $366,500
Rijana Forest: 800–850 Hostages Still Held
TruthNigeria reports estimate that 800–850 people are currently being held in the Rijana forest camp network—a vast kidnapping enterprise that has become one of the deadliest along the Kaduna–Abuja corridor.
Ado Emmanuel, Chairman of the IDPs, said frequent, organized kidnapping raids did not begin in 2024.
“They became widespread from around 2015–2016, escalating sharply by 2017–2019,” he said.
Timeline Overview:
- Before 2011: Sporadic clashes; limited kidnapping
- 2011–2014: Rise in armed Fulani militia attacks
- 2015–2016: Systematic kidnappings begin
- 2017–2020: Peak expansion into major corridors
- 2021–2024: Kidnapping becomes industrial-scale
Is There an Islamization Agenda? Experts Speak
Experts interviewed by TruthNigeria differ, but many reputable analysts argue that extremist Fulani factions in Southern Kaduna display ideological motives linked to displacement of Christian communities. Though analysts rarely state “Islamize the state” outright as a motivation, the findings point toward long-term ideological objectives intertwined with violence and land capture.
Mike Odeh James is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
