By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Bandits on Sunday night kidnapped at least 86 persons in Tantatu and Aguba communities in the Kufana District of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Residents said the attackers also broke into shops, ransacked houses and looted foodstuffs and other valuable items during the invasion.
This is the eighth incident of kidnappings and attacks by bandits in the state within the last one month.
On February 18, 2024, bandits invaded Gindin Dutse Makyali village in Kajuru LGA and burnt 12 people and 17 houses.
On February 29, they invaded Angwar Auta in Gonin Gora under Kakau Ward of Chikun Local Government Area, killed two local vigilantes and abducted 10 residents.
On March 7, at least 287 schoolchildren of Kuriga Primary and Junior Secondary School were abducted in Chikun LGA.
On March 8, two residents were killed during Friday prayers at Anguwar Makera under the Kwasakwasa Community in Birnin Gwari LGA while many others were kidnapped.
On March 12, at least 30 villagers were also taken hostage by bandits in Budah village, also in Kajuru.
On March 13, one person was killed and eight others abducted when bandits invaded the Banono settlement under the Angwaku community in Kajuru.
On March 16, 2024, bandits invaded Dogon Noma – Unguwan Gamo Community in the Maro ward of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped 14 villagers.
The latest incident happened a day before the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, visited Governor Uba Sani on Monday at the Government House in Kaduna where he assured that the 287 students and others recently abducted would be rescued.
Mr. Stephen Maikori, Overseer of the Kufana District, in a statement sent to the Agom Kufana Traditional Council and obtained by Daily Trust yesterday, said the bandits invaded the communities around 10.30 pm on Sunday in large numbers and kidnapped the victims.
He said, “This is to report to you that on Sunday 17/3/2024 around 10:30 p.m., bandits invaded the community in large numbers and kidnapped 86 persons.
“They broke down shops, ransacked houses, and looted foodstuffs and other valuable items.”
Another community leader, who did not want to be named, said villagers were fleeing the areas because they were not sure of the next community to be attacked by bandits.
“Our major challenge now is that our people are running from their houses because of the series of abductions in their areas. They are now moving to the Maraban Kajuru area. This is disturbing to us,” he said.
The state government has not responded to the latest incident. The overseeing Commissioner in the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, did not reply to a message sent to him via WhatsApp.
But the Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident.
He, however, said the command was yet to get the accurate number of people abducted due to bad telecommunication networks in the area.
“We have received the information, but we don’t have the accurate number of the victims due to poor network in the area.
“But we have already deployed our men, both conventional police and mobile policemen, including the intervention special squad for the possibility of rescuing the victims,” he said.
The Defence Chief, General Musa, during a meeting with Governor Sani yesterday, said the military and other security agencies were working tirelessly to free the hostages.
Musa was in Kaduna to sympathise with the governor on the abduction of the schoolchildren and others in the state. He alleged that there were individuals who were not happy to see the country develop and wanted to cause rancour and mayhem.
He cautioned such individuals to desist from such acts. He said, “Whatever is happening, it’s a matter of time; it will not last forever. It’s a trying period that the state and nation are going through.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure the security of the state, the country and the citizens, especially to free the abducted ones, both the schoolchildren and all others abducted.
“We are happy with the directive given by the president based on the unfortunate incident in Delta State, that he will give us all the support that may be required, which is the mandate that we need.
“We came to reassure you that we are not sleeping, that we are taking more actions to ensure that we safeguard and bring them (children) back as quickly as possible. These are children and leaders of tomorrow. We will not allow them to go through this trauma. Let them not feel they have been neglected.”
Musa also said he knew that the parents of the children were having sleepless nights, adding that the military was making adjustments to ensure that Kaduna, the North West and Nigeria were secure.
“For those individuals who have sworn that there will be no peace, they will have no peace. We will ensure that we follow them wherever they are. For those sponsoring them and encouraging them to do the same, for their own good, they should stop.
“We will ensure that anybody who stands in the way of getting peace in the state and Nigeria will be brought to book. We will take our time to follow up through the normal process without infringing on people’s rights, but we will do what is required,” he added.
Governor Sani commended the leadership of the military for their support toward securing the state.
