A resident has reportedly been killed by suspected kidnappers who also abducted three persons, including two traditional rulers in Balma village, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
According to a villager, the village Head, Mai Anguwan Bakutunbe, and one other person were kidnapped in two different operations.
He said “After they kidnapped the village Head and left, one Alh Haruna Dan OC was found lying down after they shot him in the neck. The victim was then rushed to the Ningi General Hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor”.
Confirming the incident, the Acting Chairman of Ningi local government area, Ibrahim Zubairu, said that the traditional ruler of Balma was sitting with people in his palace when the kidnappers who were three in number arrived in a car, stormed his palace and forcefully whisk him away.
He said, “Alh Haruna Dan OC, came back home on his motorcycle and was going to enter his house when the kidnappers saw him and shot him, which led to his death.”
He called on the residents of the local government to keep praying for peace and working with law enforcement officers toward establishing peace in the area.
He guaranteed that the matter had already been reported to the appropriate authorities, who will take appropriate action.
According to him, the local government has taken measures to ensure that the military officers in Jimi town are back to reduce the occurrence of terrorist actions.
Speaking to journalists on the phone, the Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident.
Ahmed Wakil, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, said that the second Village Head was abducted on Friday.
“They shot sporadically and took away the village head, one Alh Hussaini Saleh who is 48-year-old to an unknown destination.
“One Haruna Jibrin was shot in the head by the gunmen. When the Police received the distress call, a team of policemen was drafted to the scene, they rescued the victim and rushed him to the General Hospital, Ningi where he was receiving treatment. He was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
“Presently, the police in Ningi Division are combing the bush trying to see how they can rescue the two abducted Village Heads alive”.
In a similar vein, gunmen raided Bakutunbe village on Saturday night and kidnapped two people: the community head, Idris Mai Unguwa, and another individual, Ya’u Gandu Maliya, who is roughly 45 years old.
The kidnappers allegedly contacted their relatives and wanted N8 million apiece as ransom.
