By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Bandits in their numbers have reportedly abducted 22 residents in separate fresh attacks in Kugauta community of Kusheka, Kumana Chiefdom, and Kitanda community of Geshere, also in Kumana Chiefdom, Kauru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
A resident and trainee pastor in the area, Emmanuel Johnson, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists on Saturday, January 25.
He said the assailants invaded the two communities in separate attacks on Friday (the previous day) about 10:30pm and kidnapped 22 locals, mostly women and children.
The resident explained that 12 locals were kidnapped in Kitanda community while 10 were also whisked away in the Kugauta community.
Mr. Johnson lamented that despite the escalating kidnapping profile by bandits and other criminal elements in their communities, only three policemen were stationed in their communities and neighbouring villages.
He disclosed that their communities and surrounding villages have been consistently attacked, and villagers kidnapped daily.
“The police officers manning our communities cannot secure our villages; the government must show us that we’re Nigerians and we have equal rights to be protected by the Nigerian government authorities.
“Most locals were forced to leave their villages as a result of the escalating kidnapping and killings of our loved ones.
“Over N60 million has been paid as ransom while many persons are still in the kidnappers’ custody,” Johnson revealed.
The trainee pastor added: “We’re facing an infrastructural deficit, in terms of roads network, hospitals and schools. We hardly can take our farm produce to the market because of the nature of the roads here.”
According to him, the situation in their respective communities is worrisome, urging government to show some level of seriousness in handling the persistent insecurity in the areas.
“The Army, NAF (Nigeria Air Force), and other sister security agencies must conduct offensive operations to flush these bandits terrorizing our communities out of those camps.
“These bandits have meted all kinds of hardship on our people, crippling our economy and plunging us into abject poverty.”
He further called on government to establish police stations and Army Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in strategic areas, stressing that such move will help address the escalating insecurity bedeviling the area.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Mansir Hassan, could not respond even till the time of filing this report.
