•443 abducted in two weeks, community attacked twice in 1 week
From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
•A dilapidated structure of the primary school
•Children in Kuriga calling for security and peace in the community
Some communities in Kaduna State are in deep trouble. The residents are gnashing their teeth in agony and sorrow. In fact, they are living in fear, not knowing what may befall them before the end of the day.
The resurgence of kidnapping in some local government areas of Kaduna State in recent times is giving residents of the state sleepless nights and further depreciating their trust in the capacity and capability of the federal and state governments to secure their lives and property as enshrined in the constitution.
What is more worrisome is the audacity of the bandits terrorising the state as they embark on massive abductions back-to-back despite the assurances of protection by the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of securing the lives and property of Nigerians.
On February 28, bandits attacked the Gonin-Gora community, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis in Chikun local government area of the state, whisked away 16 locals, and later demanded N40 trillion ransom for their release. The daring gunmen also demanded several pick-up Hilux vans and motorcycles.
•Primary School, Kuriga
One of the leaders in Goni Gora, Mr. John Yusuf, told a news source via a telephone call that “the bandits have contacted the community, demanding N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans, and 150 motorcycles for the release of 16 people they are holding captive.
“Where are we going to get this kind of money? Even if we sell the entire community, we cannot raise N40 trillion. Even Nigeria as a country has never made a budget of N40 trillion.
“The abductions happened twice within a four-day interval. During the first attack, three people were kidnapped, while in the second attack, 13 people were abducted, bringing the total number of people being held captive to 16.”
The community has since appealed to the federal and state governments to come to the rescue of their members because there was no how they could raise such money and and other items demanded by the kidnappers.
Few days after, the bandits stepped up their game and abducted 287 pupils and students of Local Education Authority Primary School and Government Secondary School located in Kuriga community in the same Chikun local government area of the state.
This has since attracted wide condemnations from within and outside the country because the abduction took place in broad daylight unchallenged.
President Bola Tinubu, Gov. Uba Sani and security chiefs have either sent representatives or visited Kuriga without the return or rescue of the abducted children and teachers.
On March 12, at least 60 persons were reportedly abducted at gunpoint by bandits at Buba village in Kajuru local government area of the state. Since then, the community has not heard anything about their loved ones.
On March 18, the terrorists mobilised again and abducted about 80 persons at Tantau ward in the same Kajuru local government area of the state.
A credible source from the area, who spoke in confidence, said that the criminal elements launched a coordinated attack on the Tantau ward of Kajuru local council in the wee hour of March 18 unchallenged.
“Over 80 persons were abducted in Tantatu of Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State early this morning. We are still counting,” the source said.
According to the source, the affected community where about 50 persons were abducted last week has not heard from the kidnappers ever since.
In all the incidents, both the Kaduna State Police Command and the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs were not prompt in making official statements.
In the two local government areas where bandits are currently having field day, there are buffer forests that connect them to the dreaded Birni Gwari local council and Niger State.
