By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
A nursing mother with her baby and three other people have been kidnapped by bandits, who attacked three different communities in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The bandits, who have been terrorizing residents of the LGA were said to have attacked the communities within three days.
A source in the area told journalists that on Thursday night, August 17th, 2023, the terrorists attacked Sanger settlement in Kwangoro village and abducted one person for ransom.
The source, who craved anonymity, however, said that he could not ascertain the amount the kidnappers were demanding, adding that negotiation was ongoing to secure his release from captivity.
He added that, similarly, on Saturday night, the gunmen invaded and attacked Billiri Gorore Village in Lumbu Community unchallenged; and kidnapped two people in the process, one Alhaji Chibi and Alhaji Siba, all of the same address.
In yet another operation, it was gathered that the bandits launched an attack on Yadagungume town on Saturday night and abducted a nursing mother, the wife of one of the businessmen based in the town. He was said to have narrowly escaped from the attack.
A security source confirmed to our journalists that, “the incident occurred at about 1:00am. The gunmen forcefully entered the house of one Alh Abdussalam Yaudo in Yadagungume and kidnapped his wife, a nursing mother, Adama Abdussalam, aged 20.”
Speaking on the development, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ningi LGA, Ibrahim Zubairu, who confirmed the incidents, said that on receiving the report, he immediately mobilized the security personnel to the affected communities.
He said that “the local government authority is not relenting but it’s doing its best and putting efforts towards arresting the insecurity issues bedeviling the peace and tranquility of the area.
“We are recording a great success in the fight against insecurity whereby before the recent attacks, communities within the LGA lived in harmony for 16 days without any report of kidnapping activities.”
Zubairu pointed out that this was informed by the concerned efforts of the state Governor, Bala Mohammed to ensure that the lives and property of the common man are fully protected.
He assured that his Council will not rest on its oars in safeguarding the life and properties of the citizens by collaborating with all security agencies to that effect.
Similarly, bandits suspected to be kidnappers on Saturday stormed Gumau community in Toro LGA of the State and kidnapped Alhaji Babangida (Dan Rimin Wunti) and Alhaji Saleh Jange, both residents of the area.
The bandits were said to have stormed the town in the wee hours, shooting sporadically to scare people away which enabled them to perpetrate their heinous crime.
A resident of the area revealed that after a time of respite, the bandits have resurfaced terrorizing the communities through incessant kidnapping for ransom, a development he said has devastated the people of the area.
A Member representing Toro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dabo Haruna, while reacting to the development, condemned the recent kidnappings in Gumau, Bargan Fulani, Salarma and Fishere Communities, all in Toro LGA.
He sympathized with the victims and prayed for their safe return while assuring his constituents of quick legislative interventions that would bring an end to these unfortunate incidents.
The Federal Lawmaker lamented that the spate of kidnappings in Toro Federal Constituency calls for great concern considering the recent kidnappings by the bandits.
He said that the sad development is coming few days after similar incidents occurred at Bargan Fulani where a woman was slaughtered and another man killed at Fishere Communities.
He called for stakeholders and traditional rulers engagements with the security agencies amidst the challenges confronting Toro Federal Constituency.
Haruna promised to work closely with security agencies by supporting legislations that would ensure the protection of lives and properties of the affected communities and Toro Federal Constituency at large.
He called on Governor Bala Mohammed and the Federal Government to urgently order the deployment of more security personnel to Toro LGA to fish out these criminals.
Efforts to get confirmation from the Bauchi State Police Command failed as its Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Ahmed Wakili, did not respond to calls put through to his mobile phone number neither did he reply the SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile phone number as of the time of filing this report.
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