Inhabitants of Kurmin Wali village, located in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, recounted an incident on Sunday when robbers assaulted their community and abducted numerous individuals.
Individuals who evaded the bandits, together with relatives of the abducted, verified to our correspondent yesterday during a visit that numerous individuals were seized by armed assailants, according to Daily Trust.
The assailants invaded the settlement, encircled it, and abducted their victims before retreating into the jungle.
Many inhabitants reported an inability to sleep in their homes at night due to fear of attacks.
Despite the assertions of the Kaduna State Government and Police Command that no kidnappings occurred in the town, residents and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) maintain that numerous individuals were abducted and remain in the custody of bandits in the wilderness.
A caravan of security agencies, including the military and police, was observed headed towards the neighborhood yesterday.
“My spouse and five offspring are among the captives.”
Jonathan Na Allah, a Kurmin Wali resident, informed our correspondent yesterday that bandits kidnapped his wife and five children during the assault. He stated that the incident transpired early in the morning during religious services.
He stated that members of the local vigilante group informed them of the impending arrival of the bandits to the village.
As individuals attempted to flee, we recognized that the bandits had already encircled the settlement. He stated that anyone attempting to flee was threatened with a firearm.
Jonathan recounted that he successfully evaded capture by concealing himself within a residence, however his wife and five children were less fortunate, as they were apprehended and transported to the wilderness.
Another neighbor, who identified himself as Joseph’s father, informed our correspondent that his wife and child remain in the custody of the bandits.
He stated that despite his escape, the bandits assaulted him prior to abducting his wife and child.
“What pains us most is the assertion that nothing transpired in our village,” he stated.
166 individuals in captivity — Village chief
Ishaku Dan’azumi Sidi, the village chief of Kurmin Wali, informed our correspondent that at least 166 individuals are presently held captive by the bandits.
He stated that he nearly evaded capture near a river while other locals were being escorted into the forest.
He asserts that terror has compelled numerous locals to abandon villages deep within the forest, while those who remain now sleep in the jungle at night and return to the hamlet during the day.
The village chief stated that the town is experiencing a significant food scarcity after members sold their agricultural products last week to pay a ransom for the release of 21 individuals previously abducted, only for the bandits to attack again days later.
“We are soliciting assistance as we lack food and resources to ensure the release of our relatives who remain in captivity,” he stated.
Sources informed our correspondent that the assailants are seeking 17 motorcycles as ransom for the release of the kidnapped residents.
Luka Bauna, another resident, recounted his escape from the kidnappers.
He stated that while they were being escorted through the jungle and arrived at a river, darkness descended, allowing him to conceal himself and flee, since other individuals were being transported simultaneously.
This is not the inaugural instance of bandits assaulting our hamlet, although they have never abducted as many individuals as they have now. Consequently, fear prevails, prompting some locals to abandon the village,” he stated.
The state government and law enforcement did not provide any formal statement regarding the incident that occurred yesterday.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuiabu, did not respond to multiple calls made by our correspondent to his mobile phone, requesting his comments on the locals’ reports of the incident. He also did not respond to text and WhatsApp communications sent to him.
On Monday, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states, stated that two churches were impacted during the assault.
“I prefer not to discuss numerical data; however, the information I obtained from the region suggested that approximately 172 individuals were abducted, with nine successfully escaping, resulting in around 163 remaining in the captors’ custody,” he stated.
He characterized the occurrence as distressing but asserted that the church would maintain its hope.
“This is an exceedingly challenging and distressing circumstance, yet we shall not relent.” The security agencies and the administration are endeavoring to restore calm in Kaduna, and we recognize and commend that,” he stated.
The Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Rabiu, on Monday characterized claims of the abduction of 163 worshippers in the region as untrue.
Following the State Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the police commissioner urged anyone asserting the allegation to enumerate the names of the purported victims and furnish additional details.
“To date, no individual has been identified as having been allegedly abducted from the community,” stated CP Rabiu on Monday.
The Executive Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, on Monday refuted the reports of the attack as mere rumors.
Madaki stated that he personally visited the region following the reports, escorted by security personnel.
Likewise, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shauibu, remarked on Monday that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders had engaged with the local populace in the vicinity of the alleged kidnapping.
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