Residents of Ungwan Nungu in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State are gripped by fear following fresh threats from terrorists, who vowed to retaliate after a military operation killed two gang members and led to the recovery of an AK‑47 rifle, ammunition, and about ₦1.6 million.
Community sources told Sahara Reporters on Friday that the resurgence of threats comes barely days after 10 residents, six women and four men, were abducted on their farms on November 29, a pattern that has become routine in the community.
According to residents, troops intercepted the terrorists on Friday as they attempted to collect ransom for abducted villagers. The soldiers reportedly recovered an AK‑47 rifle, one round of 9mm ammunition, and cash believed to be ransom money.
The terrorists, in a Hausa-language audio obtained by Sahara Reporters, accused villagers of alerting soldiers, leading to the fatal ambush.
“The voice note is from the terrorists who are threatening us after two of them were suspected to have been killed,” one resident said.
An earlier attack in Ungwan Nungu saw about 15 people, mostly children, abducted, with five later abandoned because they were too weak to continue the trek.
In the audio message, a terrorist vowed violent retaliation against the community.
He said, “We thank you for what you have done for us. I hope you people want to live peacefully with us.
“Is that why you sent soldiers to us? Are you hearing me? I swear to Almighty God; do you know how mighty God is? We have ‘entered the same trousers’ with you. You brought us money and still sent soldiers along.
“Are you hearing me? I swear to God, everything the soldiers did to us, we shall repay you people. If we are still alive, we will definitely retaliate.
“I am telling you this not because I want to listen to whatever you are saying, but so that if something happens one day, you will not say we did not warn you. By God’s grace, we shall retaliate for what they did to us. If you people are still in this community, just wait and see.”
He warned that the group would return after regrouping. The terrorist also claimed the seized AK-47 must be paid for, threatening widespread attacks if the community failed to meet their demand.
He said, “Are you hearing me? From next month, after we have fully prepared, we are coming back, and you will see God’s miracles.
“They took one of our rifles, and because of that rifle only God knows how many lives will be lost. Except they pay us for that missing rifle.
“We have been dealing with you people and the security operatives peacefully. “But from now on, from the farms to the villages to the roads, including the security operatives, we will be attacking you unless you pay for the rifle the soldiers took from us.
“But if you refuse to pay for the rifle, rest assured no one in your community will live in peace. I swear to God, I give you two months, and you will regret it.
“Get ready. If you want to pay, you know how to find us. And if you refuse, we will come by ourselves and collect it from you.”
In the recording, a community representative pleaded innocence, insisting they did not inform the military.
He said, “I swear to God, we did not send soldiers to you. As we promised yesterday, we kept our promise. Why would we send soldiers to you people? He added that the Nigerian military had confronted the villagers, accusing them of hiding information about ransom negotiations.
“The Nigerian military is angry because yesterday we took money to deliver to you, and we did not inform them. Even today, we refuse to tell them anything.
“We did not send anyone to you people. Like I told you, we did not inform anyone. They are blaming us, asking why we are communicating with you people and refusing to let the security operatives know.”
With terrorists naming farmlands, roads, and villages as targets, Ungwan Nungu residents say they now live in terror, unsure when the attackers might strike again.