36 people kidnapped on Kaduna farm

No fewer than 36 people have been kidnapped by bandits at Jangali Bagoma a border town between Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State and Niger State.

Speaking in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, a community leader, who craved anonymity remarked that the bandits stormed the farm in the early hours of Sunday morning and abducted 36 people including women and children.

He said that the area used to be a forest before the government converted it to farmlands and allocated it over 1,000 people.

“It is a vast land where people farm and yet on Sunday the hoodlums stormed the area to abduct dozens of people including women and children who came to harvest their crops,” the community leader said.

He added: “I think the motive behind this carnage is to discourage the people from farming.

“Our towns and villages are under siege. Our security has been overwhelmed. Two days ago when I was coming to Birnin Gwari, I saw dozens of vehicles along the road. I can’t really say whether what is the problem. We want the government to do something and free us from this bondage.”

However, the Kaduna Police Command spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said that the unfortunate incident occurred within communities around the border between Birnin Gwari and Niger State.

“I don’t think the incident happened in Kaduna. It is between the border around Birnin Gwari and Niger State. I will call the Police Area Commander in the affected area and get back to you,” he said.

Meanwhile, the bandits were said to have operated on last Monday took away women, children and others into the forests.

But, an escapee, Malam Muhammadu, said that the bandits only took away the victims and there was no incident of death at the time he escaped.

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