Residents of Danhonu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Monday staged a protest over repeated kidnapping incidents, following the abduction of seven people by suspected bandits.
The angry residents marched to the Millennium City Divisional Police Headquarters, where they blocked a major access road, chanting solidarity songs and demanding urgent action from security agencies.
The latest attack reportedly happened around 11:30pm on Sunday, when armed bandits stormed the area and kidnapped members of two families.
Those abducted were identified as Yahaya Yusuf, his wife Latifat Yusuf, and their two sons, Abdulgafar and Abdulqudus. Also taken were Mrs Abdulrazak Jimoh and two of her children, whose names were not immediately made available.
Residents said the incident has worsened fear in the community, claiming it brought the number of kidnapping cases in the area to 11 within just a few months.
Some protesters alleged that the attacks were mostly targeted at non-indigenes living in the community, raising suspicions that informants might be working with the kidnappers.
One resident, who spoke anonymously, said the attackers came in large numbers and were heavily armed.
“In the last month, more than four residents have been kidnapped here. Yesterday, no fewer than 15 bandits came with AK-47 rifles and abducted about five residents to an unknown destination,” the protester said.
The Chairman of the Danhonu II Landlords Association, Akoh Salifu, who led the protest, said the community could no longer endure the constant insecurity.
“We are here because we can no longer live in peace. The pressure from these repeated kidnapping incidents has become unbearable for us,” Salifu said.
He also revealed that some youths tried to chase the kidnappers into the bush after Sunday’s attack but could not catch up with them.
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“As law-abiding citizens, we decided to come to the police to formally register our grievances and cry out for urgent intervention to save our community,” he added.
Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the police received a distress call and responded quickly.
However, he explained that operatives, alongside soldiers, arrived late due to poor road access and difficult terrain, giving the kidnappers time to escape despite an exchange of gunfire.
Hassan added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, had visited the community and met with stakeholders, assuring them that the command was considering establishing a police outpost in the area.
