In nineteen days, about 466 innocent citizens were kidnapped by terrorists across two local government areas of Chikun and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna state, Blueprint’s investigation has revealed.
The latest in the spate of kidnappings in the state, the fifth in the period under review, occurred Sunday night with 86 residents in Kajuru-Station falling victims of the gun-trotting terrorists.
…Dateline of attacks
On Wednesday night, February 28th, 2024, residents of Gonin Gora, Chikun local government were rudely awakened from their sleep when the gunmen struck, kidnapping 16 people.
A week later, precisely Thursday, March 7th, 2024, it was the turn of Kuriga also in Chikun local government area where 287 pupils, students and teachers of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School, both in Kuriga, were kidnapped right on the assembly ground early in the morning.
The abductors were to later place a one billion naira ransom for the release of the students.
And just four days later, Monday March 11th, 2024, the ill wind of terrorism blew to Buda Hausa community, this time in Kajuru local government area, where 61 residents became kidnap victims.
Similarly, Dogon-Noma village also in the same Kajuru local government area had 15 women and a man abducted early Saturday morning of March 16th, 2024, while barely 44 hours after, the criminals struck again in the same local government area and forcefully made away with yet another set of 86 villagers from Kajuru-Station, into the forests.
The spate of kidnappings, which had led to men, women and children in five communities being victims culminated in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone, to convene a security stakeholders’ meeting.
The meeting, it was gathered, is to discuss the security challenges bedeviling Kaduna Central zone, which include both Chikun and Kajuru local government areas, and also the entire state, with a view to finding lasting solution to the security breaches.
But, the latest Sunday night attack has made the meeting more imperative to help the citizens get the much desired rest.
…Police confirm attack, lawmaker speaks on number
Confirming the latest attack, the Kaduna state Police Command said it had deployed its personnel to the affected community.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Mansir Hassan; however said the Police were yet to ascertain the number of persons kidnapped.
But a member representing Kajuru Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Usman Danlami Stingo, said 86 residents were kidnapped Sunday night by the criminal elements.
“On Sunday night, March 17, 2024 bandits invaded Kajuru Station a community in Kajuru local government area of the state, kidnapping 86 people,” the lawmaker said.
Another source in the community who is a member of the Kajuru-Station Youths (KSY), Harisu Dari, who spoke further on the attack, told journalists Monday that the terrorists wielded sophisticated weapons and invaded the village around 10:0 pm Sunday night.
He added that the criminals also broke into some shops within the community and carted away food items and other valuables.
He said: “As of the time I visited the community this (Monday) morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers. The villagers are traumatized with the sad development. Government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists.”
It was however, gathered at the time of this report that seven of the 86 abductees were ‘unconditionally’ released last night.
…Expert explains
Speaking on the rash of kidnappings in Kaduna state, a security expert, Major Mohammed Bashir Galma (rtd), attributed this mainly to four reasons namely; the parlous state of Nigerian economy; the long closure of border with Niger Republic, the failure of government to mete out punitive measures to arrested terrorists and poor intergovernmental collaborations.
“There are so many reasons why there is a spate of kidnappings in Kaduna state. One, the poor economic situation of the country; because people are looking for means of sustaining themselves, they would do anything to make money including going into crime such as banditry. Two, the long closure of border with Niger Republic as a punishment of the country by ECOWAS. The people of Niger Republic became nonchalant about what happened to Nigeria or who comes into Nigeria and that allows all sorts of criminals have free entry into the country.
“Three, lack of pursuit of these bandits to their enclaves, whenever they attack, to see where they come from and their camp site contributed. Also, there is no punishment for the bandits caught and their informants. Such punishment should be clearly heard and seen by all to serve as deterrent to others. The intelligence gathering should be upped and focused on the cities because the people controlling these bandits are in the cities. They design the plan and send it to the bandits in the forests to execute. We should train vigilantes on counter intelligence to enable them counter the plan of the criminals.
“Fourthly, lack of cooperation between the state governments rob them of the strength of synergy of working together. Also lack of seriousness on the part of government. Anytime there is an attack, they became serious about it, but they soon forgot about it and go about other businesses instead of pursuing the bandits till they are arrested and brought to book,” Galma said.
The security expert, however, decried government’s inability0 to act on previous suggestions to curb kidnap of school children.
He said: “About the abducted school children, there have been several recommendations but they were ignored. This is not the first time school children have been abducted, but the act is being repeated because the recommendations were not followed.
“First, we recommended perimeter fencing of all vulnerable schools, installations of early warning system and teaching the students basic defence skills to defend themselves and make it difficult for the bandits to abduct them. But they were not followed.”
…On the preponderance in Chikun, Kajuru LGAs
Speaking on the preponderance of kidnappings in Chikun and Kajuru local government areas, he said their geographical location made it easy for the bandits and difficult for security agencies.
“Why Chikun and Kajuru local government areas because of their geographical nature and location. The two local governments are close to forests and mountainous regions such that everybody thinks it would be too dangerous to go there, even the security agencies think so,” Galma said.
…Army slams Okuama community
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army Monday accused the Okuama community in Delta state of resorting to propaganda instead of cooperating with the military to fish out the killers of 16 soldiers on a peace mission to resolve communal clash.
The victims include a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, all of whom were killed Thursday by youth in riverside Ijaw and Urhobo communities of the state.
Army spokesperson, Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
He said the community was peddling falsehood “to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover-up.”
Nwachukwu warned that no amount of propaganda would) to face the wrath of the law.
“The unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), while on a peaceful and mediatory mission, after a reported case of communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectfully is not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.
“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuama Community, in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to coverup, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety, it is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies. There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.
“While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds.
“The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, has directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law. Troops are determined to get to these criminals, there is certainly no hiding place for them,” the statement said.
