By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
As banditry and terrorist activities intensify in Kaduna State, a growing number of residents are abandoning their homes in affected areas for safer locations within the metropolis. The fear of kidnapping and attacks has driven many, particularly those living in personal homes on the outskirts, to seek refuge elsewhere.
Areas severely impacted include Gonin Gora along Abuja Road, Romi, Sabon Tasha GRA, Ibrahim Yakowa Road (New Road), and Maraban Rico. Residents from these regions are evacuating their properties due to escalating reports of kidnappings and attacks.
Housing agents have observed a notable increase in their workload, reversing the previous decline in demand for accommodation that began around 2012/2013, during the early stages of the insurgency. Kasham Samuel, a housing agent based in Television Village, Kaduna, noted that the scarcity of available accommodation has surged once more. He explained that both landlords and tenants are seeking safer living conditions within the city.
Samuel, also known as Kakas, remarked, “Before 2012/13, accommodation was plentiful, and many people had built their own homes, leading to a surplus of available rooms. Now, with the rise in insecurity, there is a renewed demand for safe housing inside the city, with many people relocating from high-risk areas.”
In addition to the housing crisis, there has been a marked increase in child street hawking in Kaduna State, including Kaduna South. Our correspondent observed a significant rise in the number of underage children selling goods such as groundnuts, corn, and eggs throughout the day and night. This surge is partly attributed to economic hardships and the school vacation period.
Residents have expressed concern over the risks faced by these children, who are exposed to potential abuse and accidents. Many families, struggling with severe inflation and economic strain, are finding it increasingly difficult to provide even basic meals. As a result, some children have taken to hawking as a means to support their families.
Families who spoke anonymously revealed that providing two square meals a day has become a challenge, pushing some children to volunteer for street hawking to help alleviate their families’ financial burdens.
