Fifty years old Yawale Lemo, and 50-year-old Kwaine Musa, both resident of Kafin Lemo, a suburb community in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, were reportedly kidnapped after failing to pay N10 million that were imposed on them by terrorists locally known as bandits,wikkitimes report.
A resident of the community told PREMIUM TIMES, that the bandits had earlier ordered the kidnapped locals to provide N10 million before the attack on Friday.
“The two residents of this village, Kafin Lemo, were abducted by unknown gunmen who came into the village shooting sporadically around 2 a.m. in the night,” said the resident. “The two persons that were kidnapped recently by the group were asked to make N10 million available for the kidnappers before they come. The inability to pay the money is the reason they carried out the attack.”
“To date, the group has not called to inform their families where they are or to tell them the amount they should pay as ransom before they are released,” he added.
That same Friday, the terrorists also killed two residents of Tamba community in the same local council. Operatives of police and vigilantes group rushed to the scene and evacuated the locals to a hospital where they were certified dead.
Combine forces of the police and vigilantes were said to be trailing the terrorists.
“The gunmen have mastered the terrain, which has put them on edge against the security forces. Whenever the security agents blocked their route to arrest them, the gunmen usually find their way out of the security blockage,” a resident said.
Ahmed Mohammed Wakali, spokesman for Bauchi Police Command was not available for comment when cionatcted. At press time, a text sent to him had not been responded to.
BANDITRY IN NINGI
The local government has become volatile to banditry attack in recent time.
Abdul Burra, spokesperson for the Speaker of the House, in an op-ed he wrote for WikkiTimes said the local council has been thwon into fear as bandits now ransack villages and towns, mostly, unchallenged.
“From Kafin Lemo to Tabla, Yadagungume to Balma and most strategic communities, the kidnappers operate mercilessly, abducting, killing, collecting ransom and issuing threats and warnings,” he wrote. “The rampaging kidnappers focused on the abduction of traditional rulers, wealthy individuals and businessmen. Village heads of Balma, Bukutumbe, and the family of the village head of Magamin Kano in neighbouring Sumaila Local Government of Kano State, among many other individuals, were all kidnapped, and some are still in captivity. Most businessmen and wealthy individuals in Balma, Musussuka, Tabla, Bashe, Agwarmaji, Balma, Dingis, Jangu, Jimi, Yadagungume, Yuwa, Tipchi, Sabuwar Kaura, Gamji, Ruwan Dinya, Gwandabi, Agwarmaji, Bukutumbe, Dogon Ruwa and many other villages have gone into hiding and their businesses and enterprises are shut down for the fear of the kidnappers…”
He continued: “Just yesterday [July 16], we received another shocking report of the abduction of five individuals in Jimi and the killing of an Igbo businessman in Balele. This is the story of every day in Ningi. Another dimension that the criminals took, is issuing threats to rich individuals by asking them to pay some certain amount of money or be kidnapped.
“Many have succumbed to these threats. Although authorities, especially the Bauchi State Government, Ningi Local Government Council and security agents are doing remarkably well in tackling the security problem, there is a need to look at the root causes of the situation. What are the factors that made Ningi Local Government this vulnerable and a safe haven for criminal elements, especially kidnappers?”
