Residents of Nahuche community in Bungudu Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State on Sunday staged a peaceful protest in Gusau, the State capital, demanding urgent reinforcement of security in the community over incessant attacks by terrorists and other criminal elements.
The community said it has spent N100 million on payment of ransom to kidnappers and organising vigilante group.
The protesters, who were at the Government House, Gusau, was led by a former chairman of Bungudu LGA, Musa Abdullahi Manager, lamented that attacks on the community and kidnapping for ransom had become a daily affair.
According to Manager, “in the past three years, the community has suffered about 12 attacks with many people killed or kidnapped. About N100 million was paid as ransom and for taking care of vigilantes. But the assaults on the community continue unabated.
“The criminals invaded the community and abducted some people and N5 million was paid as ransom. But they refused to release the captives. Instead, they demanded for two new brand motorbikes again.
“As the negotiations were going on, the armed men returned and kidnapped eight more residents and they are yet to demand for ransom. We have about 13 people with the bandits and we implore authorities to rescue them.”
He said a businessman, Alhaji Hadi Babban Gebe, was abducted recently and the bandits demanded N35 million, regretting that he was killed after the terrorists collected the money.
“Many people are deserting the community because of the unending attacks despite the residents’ huge investment in security as many vigilantes were recruited. We are demanding for permanent deployment of security forces to the community.
“We have acknowledged the efforts of both the state and federal government in tackling security challenges, but the case of Nahuche community calls for serious attention, otherwise, the whole community will be deserted in near future,” he warned.
The Spokesperson for the State Police Command, SP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the filing of this report.