By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A resident of Ungwan Boro in Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has reportedly foiled a suspected kidnap attempt after discovering what appeared to be a new tactic allegedly being used by criminals to lure victims out of their homes.The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday, May 23, 2026, along Segma/Jaba Road between 1:30 a.m. and 2:45 a.m.
According to a resident who witnessed the incident and spoke anonymously for security reasons, a baby wrapped in white cloth was abandoned in front of his gate and left crying loudly for over 30 minutes.
The witness alleged that when no one came out of the house, a man dressed in black, who had reportedly been hiding behind a nearby wall, crawled out and struck the baby in an attempt to make it cry louder. “When he realized nobody was coming out to check on the baby, he came out, carried the child away from the gate, and a few minutes later, a taxi arrived and they left,” the resident reportedly posted in the Segma Street WhatsApp group.
The resident said he later contacted a neighbour who claimed the method was becoming a new tactic allegedly used by kidnappers and armed robbers to lure residents outside at night.“ He told us this is a new tactic used by armed robbers and that his elder brother was robbed last week using the same method. Let’s all remain vigilant,” the message read.
The incident has since triggered fear and intense discussions among residents, with many calling for tighter night security measures, including the closure of access gates into the community. “People already know the lower gate is always open. Most of these security problems are coming from there,” one resident reportedly wrote in the group chat.
Another resident urged community leaders to lock the northern gate near the transformer, saying movement around the area at night had become disturbing. The WhatsApp discussions also contained an unverified claim that a suspected bandit disguised as a commercial motorcycle rider (Okada rider) was arrested around Karji Junction.
The message alleged that the suspect claimed that over 200 suspected criminals were residing around Sabon Tasha near the abattoir. However, another resident questioned the authenticity of the claim and asked whether the suspect was arrested by vigilantes or the police.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued any official statement confirming either the alleged baby-lure incident or the purported arrest. Residents have continued to urge members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
