Bandits have reportedly abducted 22 people in separate incidents in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attacks occurred late Friday night, targeting the Kugauta community of Kusheka and the Kitanda community of Geshere, both in the Kumana Chiefdom.
A student pastor and resident, Emmanuel Johnson, confirmed the abductions in a phone interview. He revealed that the assailants struck around 10:30 pm, kidnapping 12 people from the Kitanda community and 10 more from Kugauta. According to Johnson, the victims were primarily women and children.
Communities Under Constant Threat
Johnson expressed deep concern over the recurring attacks in the area. He lamented the lack of adequate security and accused the government of neglecting the plight of his community. “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,” he said.
He further explained the dire consequences of the persistent insecurity. “Most locals were forced to leave their villages because of the constant kidnappings and killings. Over N60 million has already been paid as ransom, yet many people remain in the custody of the kidnappers,” he disclosed.
The student pastor also highlighted the lack of essential infrastructure, which has compounded the community’s suffering. “We’re facing an infrastructural deficit in terms of road networks, hospitals, and schools. We can hardly take our farm produce to the market because of the poor state of the roads,” he said.
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Call for Military Action
Johnson called on security agencies, including the army and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), to launch aggressive operations against the bandits. “The army, NAF, and other sister security agencies must conduct offensive operations to flush these bandits out of their camps. These criminals have inflicted unimaginable hardship on our people, crippling our economy and plunging us into abject poverty,” he stated.
He also urged the government to establish police stations and army forward operating bases in strategic locations to address the rising insecurity. “If the government is serious about solving these issues, setting up security bases in critical areas will go a long way in protecting our communities,” he added.
Government Silence
Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, for comments were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or text messages at the time of filing this report.
Residents of Kauru Local Government Area continue to live in fear as the bandits’ reign of terror shows no signs of slowing down. The community’s plea to the government is clear: take decisive action to ensure their safety and restore peace to the region.