KADUNA COMMUNITY PROTESTS WAVE OF KIDNAPPINGS AFTER SEVEN ABDUCTED
Read Time:2 Minute, 11 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
Residents of Danhonu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Monday staged a protest over recurring kidnapping incidents, following the abduction of seven persons by suspected bandits.
The protesters marched to the Millennium City Divisional Police Headquarters, where they blocked a major access road, chanting solidarity songs and demanding urgent security intervention to halt the spate of attacks.
The latest incident occurred at about 11:30pm on Sunday, when armed bandits reportedly invaded the community and abducted members of two families. Those kidnapped were identified as Yahaya Yusuf, his wife, Latifat Yusuf, and their sons, Abdulgafar and Abdulqudus. Also taken during the raid were Mrs Abdulrazak Jimoh and two of her children, whose names were not immediately disclosed.
Residents said the abductions have heightened fear in the area, noting that the latest incident brought the total number of kidnapping cases recorded in the community to 11 within a few months. They alleged that the attacks were largely targeted at non-indigenes, raising concerns that informants may be aiding the criminals.
One of the protesters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers stormed the community in large numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons.
“In the last month, more than four residents have been kidnapped here. Yesterday, no fewer than 15 bandits came with AK-47 rifles and abducted about five residents to an unknown destination,” he said.
Chairman of the Danhonu II Landlords Association and leader of the protest, Akoh Salifu, said residents could no longer live in peace due to the persistent kidnappings.
“We are here because we can no longer live in peace. The pressure from these repeated kidnapping incidents has become unbearable for us,” Salifu said.
He added that some youths attempted to pursue the kidnappers into the bush after Sunday night’s attack but were unable to catch up with 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.
Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the police received a distress call and responded promptly.
He said police operatives, in collaboration with soldiers, were deployed to the area but arrived late due to poor road access and difficult terrain, allowing the bandits to escape despite an exchange of gunfire.
Hassan added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, had visited the community and met with stakeholders, assuring residents that the command would consider establishing a police outpost in the area to enhance security.
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