Hundreds of youths in Gonin-Gora community, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis in Chikun Local Government Area, yesterday blocked the Abuja-Kaduna highway to protest bandits’ attack on their community the previous night.
The Nation gathered that, during the Wednesday night’s attack, many residents were abducted, while some others were shot dead by the terrorists.
A resident said: “Goningora is in the news again, because there was an attack by bandits yesterday (Wednesday), and some people were abducted and some shot dead. The federal expressway was since morning blocked by youths in the area to protest the attack.”
It was also gathered that both Abuja bound passengers and those entering Kaduna from Abuja spent hours at the road blocks mounted by the protesting youths until the blockades were cleared by security operatives.
Though the Kaduna State government was silent on the number of people kidnapped and shot by the bandits, the State Security Council warned against blockage of roads by protesters.
A statement by the Kaduna State Overseeing Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said: “The Kaduna State Security Council has warned against blockage of public roads and harassment of innocent citizens by persons conducting protests.
“This follows the blockage of the Gonin Gora axis of the Kaduna-Abuja Road by some protesters on Thursday morning, in response to reports of a bandit attack in Unguwan Auta of Gonin Gora general area, Chikun LGA, thus denying commuters access through the route.
“The members of the Security Council, comprising the Commissioner of Police, Audu Ali, Director of Department of State Services, Abdul Adamu Eneche, Garrison Commander, One Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Muhammad Kana, and the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, in the company of security forces, dismantled the road blocks erected and subsequently opened up the road for use by motorists.
“The members of the Kaduna State Security Council while interacting with community leaders, expressed dissatisfaction with the menace of blocking roads, a situation which infringes on the rights of citizens and travelers using these roads and other public utilities.
“As of the time of this security update, citizens and motorists are plying the Gonin Gora axis of Kaduna-Abuja Road without obstruction.”
Meanwhile the Police Command in Kwara State has said at least 78 suspected kidnappers had been arrested and were currently detained in the Correctional Centre in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, said the suspects were arrested between last October and January.
He revealed this at the command headquarters yesterday while parading 28 suspected criminals including 18 held for alleged kidnapping.
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“We experience difficulties and delay in the prosecution and conviction of violent crimes and kidnap suspects because victims are unwilling to appear in courts to give testimony,” he said.
In Zamfara State, armed bandits attacked a Mosque inside Tsafe town, headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area and kidnapped an unspecified number of people.
A resident, Abubakar Tsafe, told Channels Television that the bandits parked their motorcycles at the outskirts, disguised in native attires and entered the town before launching the attack.
“They didn’t enter with motorcycles, they parked them outside the town and entered with Baba-riga (native dress) so that people will not know. They surrounded the Mosque and packed all the worshipers,” the resident said.
The resident also confirmed that members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, also known as Askarawa have been drafted to the bush to rescue the kidnapped victims.
Contacted, Askarawa Commander, Colonel Rabiu Yandoto (rtd), said he was in a meeting and could not confirm the incident.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, was not successful as he did not respond to several phone calls put across to him at the time of filing this report.
