- Protesters lament they are neither safe at home nor in their farms
Travellers are still trapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway as angry residents refused the plea of Police and other security operatives to reopen the highway they blocked over the unending kidnapping and attacks, especially the killing of a 13-year-old girl by bandits.
One of the protesting residents lamented that they were neither safe at home nor in their farms, saying the 13-year old girls was killed at Anguwar Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The resident noted that the bandits had stormed the house of the village head and abducted his family as well as other persons in the community.
“We cannot go to our farms and yet they will follow us to our homes to abduct us for ransom. They killed a 13-year-old girl, a security man in the village as well as abducted other residents including the family of the village head,” he said.
He explained that the residents only want security or to be allowed to defend themselves against the bandits.
The protesters, who had been out of their homes and blocked the highway since morning, refused to listen to the plea of security personnel who approached them.
According to another resident, “the villagers are very angry. They blocked the road and insisted that no one will pass through. When security personnel came, the men withdrew and left their women on the road.”
“Some of the women are half-naked. The soldiers were just begging them to leave the road but the men cheered them on from the roadside.”
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jalige Mohammed, however said that State Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, has directed the Area Commander to visit the scene of the protest and ensure orderliness.
He said the police are trying to ensure that the road is open to allow road users access as they meet with the community leaders and the protesting youths to discuss the problem.
“There is an incident along the highway but we are trying to control the situation,” he said.