Residents of the Danhonu II community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, protested on Monday against ongoing kidnapping incidents after seven individuals were abducted by suspected bandits.
The demonstrators proceeded to the Millennium City Divisional Police Headquarters, obstructing the main access road as they sang solidarity anthems and called for immediate security action.
The most recent assault, happening at approximately 11:30pm on Sunday, saw bandits invade the area and kidnap individuals from two families.
The individuals who were abducted were recognized as Yahaya Yusuf, his spouse, Latifat Yusuf, and their children, Abdulgafar and Abdulqudus.
Also taken during the attack were Mrs. Abdulrazak Jimoh and her two children, whose names were not revealed right away.
Residents expressed that the incident increased anxiety in the community, pointing out that it raised the total number of reported kidnappings in the area to 11 in a matter of months.
One of the demonstrators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bandits invaded 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,” the protester said.
He also revealed that residents had decided to march to the police station to formally lodge their complaints after enduring repeated attacks.
The chairman of the Danhonu II Landlords Association and leader of the protest, Akoh Salifu, stated that the community 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 revealed 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 added.
When contacted, Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Mansir Hassan confirmed the occurrence, stating that the police received a distress call and arrived quickly.
Hassan stated that police officers and soldiers were dispatched to the area but arrived late due to poor road access and tough terrain, allowing the bandits to flee despite an exchange of gunfire.
He also stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, had visited the neighborhood and spoken with stakeholders, assuring them that the command would consider constructing a police outpost in the area.
