by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Despite non-kinetic measures adopted, bandits (in their numbers) have reportedly abducted 22 locals in separate fresh attacks in the Kugauta community of Kusheka, Kumana Chiefdom, and Kitanda community of Geshere, Kumana Chiefdom, in Kauru LGA of Kaduna State.
A resident student Pastor in the area, Emmanuel Johnson, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalist on Saturday.
He said the assailants invaded the two communities in separate attacks on Friday at about 10:30pm and kidnapped 22 locals, mostly women and children.
He explained that, 12 locals were kidnapped in the Kitanda community of Geshere, Kumana Chiefdom, while 10 locals were also whisked away in the Kugauta community of Kusheka, Kumana Chiefdom.
Mr. Johnson lamented that, despite the escalating kidnapping by bandits and other criminal elements in their communities, only 3 policemen were manning their community and neighbouring villages.
He said their communities and surrounding villages have been consistently attacked, and villagers are being 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 have been paid as ransom, while many are still in the kidnappers’ custody,” Johnson disclosed.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the situation in their respective communities is worrisome, and the government must show some level of seriousness in handling the persistent insecurity problems in the areas.
“The army, NAF, 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 hardships on our people, crippling our economy and plunging us into abject poverty,” he added.
He called on the government to establish Police Stations and Army forward operating bases in strategic areas, stressing, “That will help in addressing the escalating insecurity bedeviling our environments daily.”
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, could not respond until time of filling the report.