Several residents of Gonin Gora, Kakau Ward, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State took to the Kaduna-Abuja highway in protest on Thursday morning, blocking the route. This action was prompted by the killing of two local vigilantes and the abduction of numerous residents by bandits in the area. The demonstration caused significant delays for travelers, leaving them stranded for hours,Daily Trust reports.
Reports indicate that during the protest, demonstrators threw objects at security forces, who responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The bandits reportedly raided 10 houses in Gonin Gora, kidnapping an unspecified number of residents late Wednesday night. They also engaged in a shootout with soldiers at Ligari village while attempting to escape with their captives, resulting in the burning of military vehicles.
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Yusuf Sarki, a community leader, identified the deceased vigilantes as Shuaibu and Toma. He stated that over ten individuals were abducted during the incident, emphasizing the need for local vigilantes to be equipped with weapons to confront the bandits.
Samuel Aruwan, the state’s Overseeing Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, along with other security chiefs, visited the protest site. Aruwan cautioned against vigilante actions and emphasized that security agencies were actively working to address the insecurity in the state. He also mentioned that some of the abducted residents had been rescued by security forces the previous night.
In a separate incident in Zamfara State, bandits attacked worshippers on their way to a Juma’at mosque in Kwarin Mai-Saje, Tsafe Local Government Area, kidnapping several individuals. Despite the presence of a military checkpoint nearby, the abduction occurred, underscoring the precarious security situation in the state.
Meanwhile, in Katsina State, bandits targeted a health facility in Wurma village, Kurfi Local Government Area, setting ablaze an ambulance, two Hilux vans, and three private vehicles. Thirteen people were abducted, and several others sustained injuries during the attack. Civilian Joint Task Force volunteers intervened, driving away the bandits, but the village head appealed for further assistance from the authorities. As of reporting, there had been no official statement from security agencies regarding the incident.
