In the early hour on Sunday, 28th, December, an unknown bandit killed a pregnant woman and her brother, and abducted two other children in Pindiga town, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The victims were identified as Prince Yusuf Derdoski and his pregnant sister, whose names have not yet been publicly released because of ongoing investigations and notifications to their relatives.
Therefore, eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the family residence under the cover of darkness, firing shots indiscriminately before seizing two other siblings and fleeing the scene. “They just came suddenly, you could hear the gunshots everywhere,” one neighbour said, describing the chaotic scenes that followed the assault.
The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the attack and said officers were dispatched immediately following a distress call. DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the state police spokesperson, told journalists that tactical and intelligence-led counter-operations were swiftly launched to apprehend the perpetrators.
“Following this development, tactical and intelligence-led operations were immediately intensified in the area,” DSP Abdullahi said. “Hunters and local vigilante groups have been mobilised, while concerted efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”
Abdullahi emphasised collaboration with community security networks in the ongoing efforts to track down the kidnappers, urging residents to assist with credible intelligence to hasten the rescue of the children and restore calm.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya condemned the violence in a statement issued by his press secretary, describing the incident as “barbaric, cruel and utterly unacceptable.” The governor expressed solidarity with the grieving families and the larger Pindiga community, calling on security agencies to escalate operations aimed at dismantling bandit networks in the region.
“This dastardly act is a direct assault on our collective conscience and a painful test of our resolve to protect lives and property,” the governor said, pledging that his administration would intensify efforts to ensure that Gombe does not remain a haven for criminals.
Governor Yahaya also extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for strength for the community to endure the loss while hoping for the safe return of the abducted siblings.
This latest attack takes place against the backdrop of continuing security challenges across northern Nigeria, where armed banditry, kidnappings, and violent raids have impacted rural and semi-urban communities for years. Local leaders and civil society groups have repeatedly called on federal and state authorities to harmonise security responses to stem the mounting toll on civilians.
As investigations continue and security efforts intensify, residents of Pindiga and surrounding areas remain on edge, hoping for the safe recovery of the abducted children and accountability for those responsible for the deadly raid.
