Bandits have killed four residents in Southern Kaduna between Tuesday and Thursday.

Local sources say numerous other killings and kidnappings are ongoing in the area, but remain underreported due to political interference and restrictions on journalists.

Sebastian Yakubu, a resident of Kachia town, confirmed the latest attacks.

Yakubu said the assailants ambushed a commercial vehicle conveying passengers from Awon village to Kachia headquarters on Thursday evening.

He said the bandits killed the driver, Ibrahim Makama, and a passenger identified as Jonathan Jeremiah, who had just completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

He told Sahara Reporters: “They kidnapped some of the passengers in other vehicles, while others escaped by sheer luck.

On Tuesday, they killed one of our community farmers in the same Awon village and one other local from the Ankwa area, whom they kidnapped and demanded ransom, yet they killed him afterward.

“As we speak, there’s one retired security officer who is still with them after being kidnapped in the area over two months ago, yet our people are not talking, and radio and newspaper journalists are paid to be quiet.”

On September 24, bandits attacked Kauran Fawa village in Giwa local government area, killing one person and injuring another.

A resident, Mohammed Sabiu, said the attackers stormed the community in large numbers and were heavily armed.

“They killed our brother Sabitu Hamza, and badly injured Gambo Abdulkadir, who was rushed to the hospital,” Sabiu said.