- 143 communities in Southern Kaduna have been “completely displaced”
The Armed Forces of Nigeria said on Tuesday that troops of Operation ACCORD on Monday killed two bandits along Sabon-Iche-Kagarko road in Kaduna State.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said in a statement that its own “actionable and credible intelligence on movement of bandits” shows that the “suspects are part of the notorious bandits that have been terrorising the area. The gallant troops have continued to dominate the area with aggressive patrols to deny bandits freedom of action.”
This came as nine kidnap victims of Niger Republic nationality were rescued by Katsina State government on Monday from their captivity.
The rescued persons, including four women, four men, and a toddler were kidnapped from Bima, a village in Maradi, Republic of Niger, about nine days ago.
Governor, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State said when he received the freed captives that their freedom was possible due to the continued efforts of his administration in collaboration with the security agencies and other stakeholders.
One of the victims, Issofou Ali, said 10 of them were abducted from the village on Saturday and one of them, who is a Nigerian negotiated her way out through the payment of ransom while they were chained as they spent nine days in captivity.
Meanwhile, the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) said on Monday that 143 communities across Local Government Areas in Southern Kaduna have been “completely displaced” over insecurity by the bandits.
President of the union, Jonathan Asake, said over 160,000 persons, mostly women and children, now live under very harsh and dehumanising conditions devoid of food, medication and other necessities of life.
He further noted with alarm that Southern Kaduna people have had to cough out over N900 million from January to December 2020.
“We feel gravely concerned, particularly with the spate of insecurity that has ceaselessly engulfed the nation, especially in communities across the Northern and Middle Belt Regions.
“Nigeria as a nation is seriously undergoing severe security challenges whereas terrorists who pose as Boko Haram, bandits or kidnappers continue to unleash premeditated and unprovoked attacks on our people and turning our communities into rubbles of devastation and desolation.
“The incessant kidnappings, gruesome massacre and displacement of indigenous people from their homes have continued unabated. Presently, in most of our communities across the 12 local governments of Southern Kaduna, there are reported cases of daily abductions on the road, farms, homes, markets and worship centres where victims have gone through unimaginable torture and relations forced to pay outrageous sums of money as ransom.”