By Yemi Monday
Kidnappers are on the rampage in Bauchi State as they have abducted and holding over four people captive while while one person was shot and injured in the incident.
This is just as sources confirmed that at least a total of N50 million have allegedly been paid to kidnappers as ransom by families of victims in different villages of Ningi Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State.
Reliable sources said that the gunmen attacked Gamji village, abducting a businessman simply known as Mr. Daniel and are already demanding for ransom in order to release him from captivity.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the village at about 8:40pm on Friday, shooting sporadically to scare people away which enabled them to get to Daniel, an Ibo Man who was believed to be their target.
The issues of kidnapping people in the area is becoming terrifying in recent times while efforts of government and other concerned authorities have not yet checkmate the trend a development that has subjected residents to palpable fears.
In the passing week, the gunmen kidnapped one Yahaya, a 45 year old man in Tabla village demanding for the sum of N10m as ransom before he will be released.
Also, last week Saturday, the gunmen attacked and invaded 3 villages of Kuluki, Ruwan Dinya and Shande where they went away with a 55 year old businessman, Alh Muhammadu Kazami.
They also invaded Kuluki village shooting sporadically, destroyed motorcycles and broke into people’s shops from where they proceeded to Ruwan Dinya village where they abducted one person, Bala El-B, 40 Years old and shot and wounded one boy, Abubakar Garba who is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin Kudu in Jigawa state.
Unconfirmed report has it that so far, the kidnappers have collected the sum of N50m as ransom from families of kidnapped victims to secure their releases all within one week.
The affected communities are lamenting that government and other concerned authorities have neglected and left them to their fate stressing that the criminal activities are on the rise unabated in the area.
They are demanding for action from the government in order to save them from the hands of the mauraders who are making life miserable for them.
As of the time of filling this report, the State Police Command has not responded to inquiries made about the crimes as the PPRO did not respond to SMS and Whatsapp messages sent to his mobile phone number.