Kaduna Residents Protest as Bandits Abduct Seven in Renewed Attack
Residents of Danhonu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Monday February 9, took to the streets to protest recurring kidnappings, following the abduction of seven people by suspected bandits, Global Mirror News reports.
The aggrieved residents marched to the Millennium City Divisional Police Headquarters, where they blocked a major access road, chanting solidarity songs and demanding urgent security intervention to end what they described as a worsening security crisis in the Area.
Community sources told Global Mirror News that the latest attack occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday when armed men invaded the neighbourhood and abducted members of two families.
Those kidnapped were identified as Yahaya Yusuf, his wife Latifat Yusuf, and their sons, Abdulgafar and Abdulqudus. Also taken during the raid were Mrs. Abdulrazak Jimoh and two of her children.
Residents said the incident has heightened fear across the community, noting that no fewer than 11 kidnapping cases have been recorded in Danhonu II and its surroundings within the last few months.
Some protesters alleged that the attacks appeared to be targeted mainly at non-indigenes, raising suspicions that informants might be aiding the criminals, Global Mirror News learned.
One of the protesters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Global Mirror News that the bandits invaded the community in large numbers and were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles.
He said repeated attacks in recent weeks pushed residents to stage the protest as a last resort.
The Chairman of the Danhonu II Landlords Association and leader of the protest, Akoh Salifu, said residents could no longer live in peace due to the persistent kidnappings.
He disclosed that some youths attempted to pursue the kidnappers into nearby bushes 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,” Salifu said, as Global Mirror News reports.
Confirming the incident, Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, told Global Mirror News that the Police received a distress call and responded promptly.
He said Officers, working alongside soldiers, were deployed to the scene but arrived late due to poor road access and difficult terrain, allowing the bandits to escape after an exchange of gunfire.
Hassan added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, had visited the community and met with stakeholders, assuring them that the command was considering the establishment of a police outpost in the area to strengthen security.
