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…We’ve lost 18 persons trying to expose kidnappers – locals
From: Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (rtd), on Tuesday, declared groups of kidnappers terrorising motorists and communities along Abuja-Kaduna highway as terrorists that must be crushed by all means.
Dambazau, who was in Rijana, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on what he called ‘fact-finding mission’ added that all the elements of terrorism are featured in the activities of kidnappers in the area. Hence, the need for synergy between the locals and the security operatives deployed to the area by the Federal Government to put an end to their heinous acts.
But the locals told the minister that synergy with security personnel in the area could no longer be guaranteed because about 18 of their people, who attempted to expose the activities of the deadly kidnappers, have been killed even when they revealed such to the police.
Rijana, a small community along Abuja-Kaduna highway, has before the deployment of special force by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, been a hot bed of kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling, which had forced many motorists resolved to travel through rail if at all they must travel.
Responding to the complaints laid before him by the locals, Danbazau said everything possible would be done to put the situation under control.
Said he, “We are here on fact-funding mission because of incessant kidnapping going on in this area. Government is interested because it is its responsibility to protect lives and property and besides, it is a promise this government made before it was elected into office. So I’m here to meet with the community and see how the ongoing special operation is going.
“We see this as act of terrorism because every element of terrorism is reflecting and it must stop. I’m aware that, most of the people involved are foreigners but they cannot succeed without connivance with those that reside here in the community. It is tragedy that ply this road cannot sure of his safe return.
“Many of the youths are unemployed which is partly responsible for their connivance with criminals to terrorise their victims. We will look at your complaints. Government has resolved to end this kidnapping. It is a promise and we will do everything possible to address the situation. We will also protect our informants”, the minister added.
Earlier, a former Special Assistant to former Governor Ahmed Makarfi on Rural Development who spoke on behalf of the community, Abdusalam Abubakar said though presence of security chiefs and other top government functionaries has brought some relief to them but expressed worry over killing of his people for attempting to provide police with information on kidnapping activities.
According to him, “Sincerely, we have started getting relief with the present of security chiefs and top government officials like you who have come to show concern about what is happening in our domain.
“What is happening on this road is very disheartening and we members of the communities around are living in fear and anxiety specifically we members of the Rijana community are very interested in supporting this operation with useful information but, we are in serious trouble in this community.
“It’s not that we don’t have information to give but we are scared because we can’t see reasons 600 security personnel will be around here and they will not be able to enter the bush and flush out the criminals. Our youths are now spoilt. They have mixed with criminals and they have been corrupted by them.
“But our major problem is the fear of death. Our people are now scared to give information to the security. We have hitherto be giving information to the police but instead of seeing improvement and progress in the area of security, it is the other way round.
“Everybody knows in this community that, in the process of giving out information to the security, we have list 18 people. There was one of us who was seen as a very brave man. He gave list of suspects to the security and he was cut into pieces three days after in the presence of his wife. So also, there was a gentleman, Mallam Abdulrahman who also gave information to the security he was also macheted to death. Same with Yakubu, Sani and Solomon, son of a village chief (Galadima). All died through information given to the security agents.
“Wallahi Tallahi, there are bad eggs among the security personnel especially the police. Whoever tells you Honourable Minister that this dies not exists in the police is telling you lies.
“Our patriotic Inspector General if Police has done very well because we have observed that at every u-turn along this express way, there is a police patrol van with minimum if ten personnel. But unfortunately, you will hear that in-between there are cases of armed robbery or kidnapping. And if you policeman that robbery or kidnapping is ongoing somewhere close by, he will tell you point blank that he will not go because he does not carry the weapon criminals carry.
“It is very disturbing that IGP has deployed 600 policemen to this area and not even a common chicken has been arrested. We believed that, our police have requisite intelligence to tackle this problems.
“Since the last IGP’s visit, I have not been sleeping in my house because I’m scared that the way I spoke before the IG that day, the criminals will come after me”, he submitted.
