Residents of Gonin-Gora, located in the troubled Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, staged a protest on Thursday, barricading the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in response to the abduction of several individuals in the area.
The protesters, expressing frustration over the recurrent attacks by bandits, urged government intervention to address the security challenges plaguing their community.
Eyewitnesses reported that kidnappers had raided the community from Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday, abducting numerous residents. The prolonged attack, lasting from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am, prompted residents to mobilize and demonstrate against the brazen actions of the assailants.
According to a resident and eyewitness, the armed bandits operated without interruption for over four hours, with no security presence to deter their activities. This prompted the aggrieved residents, mostly youths, to take matters into their own hands by blocking the highway, causing traffic congestion until military personnel intervened.
The Joint Task Force of security operatives was dispatched to the scene to restore order and facilitate traffic flow. Some residents, fearing further attacks, fled the area.
Reacting to the incident, the Kaduna State government cautioned against unlawful road blockades and harassment of innocent citizens during protests. The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, emphasized the need for adherence to the rule of law and urged citizens to refrain from disrupting public order.
Security forces, including the Commissioner of Police, Director of Department of State Services, and Garrison Commander, 1 Division Nigerian Army, intervened to dismantle the roadblocks and ensure the resumption of normalcy along the Kaduna-Abuja Road.
As of the latest update, traffic has resumed in the Gonin-Gora area without obstruction, with security forces maintaining vigilance to prevent further disturbances. The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the incident but declined further comments, referring to statements made by top security officials addressing the matter.
