In a series of separate attacks, suspected bandits have abducted 22 residents from Kugauta and Kitanda, both located within Kumana Chiefdom in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Emmanuel Johnson, a local resident and student pastor, revealed to Daily Trust that the assaults occurred around 10:30 pm on Friday. He explained that the bandits invaded Kitanda first, abducting 12 individuals, primarily women and children, before moving on to Kugauta, where they kidnapped an additional 10 people.
Johnson expressed deep frustration over the persistent insecurity plaguing the communities, noting that only three policemen are stationed to provide security for the village and its surroundings.
“Our communities are constantly under attack. People are being kidnapped daily,” he said. “These three police officers cannot protect us. The government must recognise that we, too, are Nigerians with an equal right to safety.”
He further disclosed that over ₦60 million has been paid in ransom to the abductors, with several residents still in captivity. The relentless attacks have forced many villagers to flee their homes, leaving the communities in a state of despair.
Johnson highlighted that the deteriorating situation has exacerbated the residents’ struggles with poor infrastructure, including bad roads, a lack of hospitals, and insufficient schools. “We can’t even transport our farm produce to the market because the roads are impassable,” he lamented.
He urged the government to deploy more security personnel, establish police stations, and set up army Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in strategic locations to counter the growing threat. He also called for offensive operations to dismantle the bandit camps in the region.
“These bandits have crippled our economy and plunged us further into poverty. The government must act decisively to put an end to this hardship,” he said. Attempts to contact the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
