Gradually, the insecurity situation in Kaduna State get deteriorated by the day from all indications. Lives generally are becoming miserable, as most natives are at risk of extinction over attacks. So consistent that most Kaduna inhabitants along Kaduna – Abuja highway are fleeing their ancestral homes in droves for safety. Some got mopped, killed or kidnapped in the process by bandits, armed robbery gangster or by unknown gunmen. Our Northwest Bureau Chief, Idibia Gabriel, kaduna, conducted investigation into what has been widely described as “A pathetic and unbearable situation some communities”.
INCIDENTALLY, most residents and commuters plying Abuja-Kaduna expressway, with settlements like Jere, Sabon Gaya, Kateri, Kakau others, all in Kaduna State, are now in hell on earth.
Drivers and passengers are most often subjected to harassment by kidnappers, armed bandits and other criminal elements almost on hourly basis.
In 2016 and 2017, there was no passing months without a record of armed robbery or kidnapping, forcing the government to respond by sending armed troops to the highway to curb the menace, and yet the incidents of banditry did not reduce. This is apart from Birnin Gwari area of kaduna state where residents encountered similar incidents overtimes.
Even if commuters plying the Kaduna- Abuja expressway could heave sigh of relief due to increased and visible presence of security personnel, same could not be said of the villagers inhabiting settlements that dot the highway.
Just recently, Kwanti Nabarka, a village located between the forest of Sabon Gaya and Buwaya, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state suffered serious 9 deadly attacks.
Most of the inhabitants are farmers and loggers. Not many may have heard of the sleepy community before now, but it is saddening that within the last 12 months, the settlement of Kwanti Nabarka and environs have suffered nine deadly attacks from armed bandits and kidnappers, with over 14 persons losing their lives while villagers were forced to part away with humongous sums of money to ransom kidnapped victims.
The last attack on November 14, 2018 led to the death of three villagers with the wife of the village head kidnapped and ransomed with N500,000. The attack led to massive relocation of over 200 villagers from Kwanti to other villages like Dutse, Sabon Buwaya, Gonin Gora and Sabon Gaya. And in most cases, these attacks remain unreported by the media.
Modus Operandi:
A Kaduna News Online (KNO) spoke to several of the villagers on why and how the kidnappers operate or target the natives of Kwanti Nabarka. According to Usman Audu, real name withheld, the bandits initially came at nights, collected money and beat up the inhabitants and the left.
Over time, the attacks became more brazen with the bandits attacking both in the day time and nights. They also upped their games by kidnapping villagers and asking for ransom before the abducted persons were released.
Similarly, failure to pay the ransom would result in beating up of the victims but again, the kidnappers upped the ante in recent times by graduating from asking for less to asking for over N500, 000 before victims would be released. Failure to pay the amount demanded would result in instant and summary execution of the victim, and more attacks would follow as a way of punishment, as the bandits would invade the village and kidnap more victims.
Mr. Audu Maigero, a farmer also in corroboration what Usman told journalists injuries inflicted and sustained by the inhabitants by the banditries overtimes. He also showed our correspondent scars on his nose, neck and head, indicating where he was slashed by the bandits who left him in coma, and then went on to attack other villagers.
Maigero also revealed that the bandits would track mostly women going to the farms, kidnap them, then ask for ransom and after the ransom is paid, the bandits would retreat to the deep forest and mountains only to emerge after two weeks to kidnap their next victim.
Mr. Maigero also spoke of a family of five whose three sons were gruesomely murdered by the bandits, leaving behind only one son. That attack he said, was in the night. “The murderers came only in the morning the next day to continue the attack. On that day, the villagers lost four sons and the murderers also kidnapped the wife of one of the village chiefs.
“The village chief was forced to pay about N500, 000 before his wife was released. That singular act prompted the villager’s numbering over 300 to flee to Sabon Buwaya, Dutse, Sabon Gaya, Kasarami and Gonin Gora,” he narrated.
WHO ARE THESE BANDITS?
According to many villagers interviewed, the origin of the attackers are not really known, but some villagers who spoke to an Online suggested that they are Fulanis and locals from surrounding villages.
But one thing is certain; the attackers do know their victims and the terrain on which they are operating. And the villagers seem to have a fair knowledge of who the attackers are but are not speaking out because they fear that any information divulged to the police would be revealed to the bandits who would in turn come at the villagers with more ferocity.
POLICE ANGLE
When Kaduna journalists sought to know if the villagers have informed police of the attacks, the village head said that he personally went to the police station to report each attack and he sent names of those killed during the attacks.
Asked if the police had responded to their reports, he said “Yes” that the police came to their village after each attack to take report and that’s all.
Went contacted the Police headquarters at Kaduna State Command, and sought an audience with the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ibrahim Sabo, officer told journalists that he had not heard of any attack on villages within the Sabon Buwaya/ Sabon Gaya. When he placed a call to Sabon Tasha Police Division immediately, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, also revealed that he had no any prior knowledge of these attacks. He told the PPRO that he would be going there personally to find out the situation.
An agreement was therefore entered into to book a meeting between the villagers and the Police so that the former would brief the latter properly about the situation on the ground. However, on Tuesday, 8th December, 2018, the PPRO and the Commissioner of Police undertook a full assessment of the attack areas.
CONSEQUENCE OF THE ATTACKS:
These attacks on villages around Sabon Gaya, Jere and Buwaya axis would trigger massive disaster if left unchecked. Most of the inhabitants are farmers and they stopped going to farms due to fear of being kidnapped. This situation is likely to breed shortage of food and to in control and expansion of crimes and criminality in the area and Kaduna State in general, as the case currently been experienced.
Just yesterday being Monday – Tuesday, kaduna was alerted of unsafe nature of the Kaduna – Abuja. The alert which from a prominent indigenes reads in parts:
WARNING ALERT! KADUNA STATE INSECURITY. KADUNA TO ABUJA ROAD TRAVELERS ADVISORY SERVICE. Security situation along Abuja～Kaduna highway has deteriorated. Advice your family and friends to avoid the road especially between 5.30am and 7.00am as well as any hour beyond 7.00pm”, it stated. Credited to founder and Chairman liberty radio and television, Tijjani Ramalan, the securiry alert added that, Kidnappers are having a field day around this periods: 5:30-700pm
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Findings revealed that, there is an allegation of a connection between kidnappers and illegal loggers in that area. Those coming through are often protected by the bandits for a fee and in return, some of them truly give information to the kidnappers on whom to kidnap, it was alleged.
Recently, 1division Nigeria army troops Kaduna arrested 15 bike men, 3 on each motorbike, heading down from Abuja – Kaduna expressed, based on tips with one allegedly killed, although army refuted the claims. The picture of the alleged suspects were communicated to the media men in Kaduna as demonstrated.
