From Jibrin Miachi, Kaduna
Seven days after they were forcefully taken away, the whereabout of 11 victims kidnapped from Agwa Community in Nassarawa village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state have remained unknown despite security arrangement across the state to secure their release.
It would be recalled that the event took place in the early hours of last Sunday, 7th February 2021, 3a.m when a group of kidnappers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the community and made away with their victims unchallenged.
The New Diplomat gathered that the kidnappers who were more than eight in number and armed with AK44, invaded Agwa and took their time to carry out their actions smoothly room by room following the absence of security operatives in the community.
The less than 3-hour operation left one person dead just as one other victim of the dastard kidnappers suffered gun-shot and was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
A member community, Elder George O Jackson lamented in reaction to the unfortunate development which has subjected other people residing in the commtunity to fears.
Speaking in an interview, Jackson retorted: “I reside in Agwa Community. In the early hours of Sunday morning, 7th Feruary 2021, precisely 3 a.m, we started hearing gunshots. For those of us who are privileged to have walky-talky for security purpose, they communicated on radio that Fulani Herdsmen were around.
“We came out in our numbers but they did not give us the actual location these people were, so we were confused until my Church member called and told me the actual place the people were and we went there. On reaching there we saw people gathered outside crying. We saw one corpse on ground. They told us that the people made a way with eleven people and one person was shot on the leg. We rushed that one to Hospital for attention.
“We called the Police and got the DPO. He asked us to come down to the station. We went there, picked and brought him down to the scene of incidence.
“He saw the corpse, asked questions and we told him everything that happened. He then asked us to take the corpse to the mortuary which was conveyed in the Police van to Gwamna Awan Hospital and deposited it there.
“According to those who saw the rampaging kidnappers, the criminals were many, up to eleven in number, well armed with AK44.
“The criminals were very fast in executing their operations. From the time we started hearing sought and distress calls and when we got there, it was less than 30minutes but they had finished their actions and gone.
“We called the Police and Army but before they could come, the deed had been done because the army posted to the area are new and have not been taken round to know the place they are to cover. This thing happened like a day after they reported in the area. When they were calling and telling them power plant area, they did not know because they are new to the place.
“Like I said earlier, we called the DPO Kakuri Division. We went and brought him to the scene and he called his men who came and made away with the corpse of the brother that died. From there he went to visit the one that was hospitalized.
“I give kudos to the DPO. He did a good job. For you to call DPO of a Division by 3a.m and he responded, he is doing a great job.
“As at this moment, we have not had any call, no information from either the kidnappers or their victims. Our people are still in captive. They have not called for ransom or anything. So, we are helpless and praying for God Almighty to save their lives.
“The criminals who invaded the community were operating from one room to another. In every apartment, they left with the family. In the first apartment, they made away with five people – wife and husband with their children. In the second apartment, they made away with three, third apartment, they made away with three families making a total of eleven people that the kidnappers made away with.
“We have never had this type of experience”, George lamented stressing “Kidnappers have come two, three and four times before but we have never had this time of experience. They kidnapped one, two persons each time they came. The highest number of people they made away with the last time they came before this operation was three people and there was no one killed. But this time around, we recorded eleven people taken away at a go with one person killed. Honestly, this is alarming.
“We need security in this area. Frankly speaking, the Police, the Army are trying. But from the level the security in the area has reached, what we need now is not just patrolling, we need a military base and a Police outpost.
“Kakuri Police station is overseeing this area but unfortunately, they do not have functional vehicle for effective patrolling. Before now, they do go out on patrol but that is not the case today for lack of vehicle.
“The situation in Kakuri Division is unfortunate. I was there at the station and saw things myself. Their two Hilux vehicles are down and there is no one ready to help. It is surprising that companies around the place could come out to help. A former legislator and a friend, Honourable Fali took it upon himself at a time to personally overhaul one of the Hilux.
“We are calling on companies operating within the area to come out and help to enable the Police too to rise up to the challenge facing all of us. At least, it is the support we give to the Police that will make them to make them effective in their services.”
The community leader, who said efforts to make government address the security concerns in area has failed in the past, called for fresh synergy among residents and security agencies to combat crime and criminality.
“We have made representations to the state government several times with a view to solving our security challenges in Agwa community before now. I remember vividly that my friend, Hon Fali took upon himself writing to the state Governor as well as the GOC complaining the level of insecurity in the community and they said they were going to look into situation.
“In their reactions, we saw soldiers posted to the place but unfortunately, the soldiers were stationed in Kudende whereas the security problem is in Agwa and we are left to do the security job while kudos goes to the Army and the Police men for doing great job in Kudende and that is why you do not hear of kidnapping among other criminal activities in Kudende.
“The stationed army and the police said they will extend their patrol to our side but before they could reach whenever we call, the did is always over. This time around, if they were on ground, I think this thing (kidnapping) would not have happened.
“Agwa is a very big community and it is still developing. People can attest to the claim that if there is any community in Kaduna that has developed and is still developing, I think we are second to none.
“In order to secure ourselves, we started putting young men together and pay them at the end of month but the thing , the arrangement, was not going the way we want it and we took it upon ourselves by coming out. Myself, my friend Honourable Fali with his position, this man will be outside from 10pm to 3a.m every day.
“We did that for three months. But the community did not help matters. What they do is to insult upon insult. No one is ready to encourage us and we said let us stay behind and defend ourselves, after all we are not doing anything to look for anybody’s money.
“Meanwhile, the Serikin Kudende, the Oba of Yoruba both in Agwa, Kudende, Jokoriko summoned a meeting and we met in the house of Serikin Kudende on the way forward. Young men representing various faces in the community both in Agwa and Kunded, Jokoriko were in attendance.
“From all indications, we have good plans. We are begging the state government to come to our aid as we do our own homework on how to prevent the re-occurrence of this security problem in the nearest future.
“On the where about of the kidnapped persons, the Police said they are yet to know where the kidnappers and their victims are presently but doing their best. We pray they will do their best because the best for now is not good enough. However, I will continue to say we give kudos to Kakuri DPO.” Jackson said.
The New Diplomat sought reaction from the police, however, the Kaduna Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO), Muhammed Jalige neither responded to calls put to him, nor replied text message sent to his phone as of the time of this reporting.
