Kaduna residents protest as bandits abduct 7 family members in fresh attack

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

Few days after Kaduna State government secured the release of 172 abductees of Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru local government area of the State, residents of Danhonu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Monday staged a protest at the Millennium City Divisional Police Headquarters over recurring kidnap attacks.

The protesters blocked the major access road to the police station, chanting and demanding urgent security intervention to halt the wave of abductions in their neighbourhood.

They said bandits struck again at about 11:30pm on Sunday, abducting seven persons from two families in the latest attack.

Among those kidnapped are Malam Yahaya Yusuf, his wife Latifat Yusuf, and their sons Abdulgafar and Abdulqudus.

Also abducted were Mrs. Abdulrazak Jimoh and two of her children.

Some residents, including journalists were kidnapped from the community in recent past.

The residents said the latest incident brings to 11 the number of kidnap cases recorded in the small community within few months.

They alleged that all the attacks have targeted non-indigenes residing in the area, heightening suspicion of possible informants within the community.

The protesters called on security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the recurring incidents and “fish out collaborators aiding the criminals.”

Leader of the protesters and Chairman of the Danhonu II Landlords Association, Mr. Akoh Salifu, said the community could no longer live in peace.

“We are here because we can no longer live in peace. The pressure from repeated kidnapping incidents has become unbearable for us,” he said.

Salifu added that some youths attempted to trail the kidnappers into the bush after Sunday night’s attack but could not reach them.

“As law-abiding citizens, we decided to come to the police to formally register our grievances and cry out for urgent intervention to save our community,” he said.

When contacted, Kaduna Police Command’s Spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan said, the Police received distress called to the attack late yesterday, and they quickly responded by deploying their men, who were equally joined by soldiers to the scene of the attack.

He however lamented that, due to the terrain bad road network to the community, the security arrived the scene late and the bandits escaped with the victims, despite the crossfire.

The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad had visited the community and held a meeting with the community leaders, disclosing that, the Command will consider establishing a police outpost in the Community.