Kaduna residents flee, as soldiers conduct houseto-house search

Residents of Fandisho village along Kaduna-Zaria highway, where the Emir of Potiskum’s convoy was attacked, have deserted their homes. Daily Trust gathered that most of the residents, mostly women and children, didn’t sleep in their houses for fear of the unknown.

Our reporters who visited the small community few kilometres from Kaduna city reported that those that the fleeing community members are yet to return home.

It was also gathered that soldiers stormed the village on Thursday night and carried out a house-to-house search.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said men and women migrated from the village to neighbouring communities.

“Our women and children left home since the incident happened. There were also some men that left because we were all afraid. Most are yet to return home,” he said.

He said on the day of the attack, they couldn’t sleep throughout the night due to gunshot sounds.

“I couldn’t sleep because they started shooting around 11:17 and stopped around 2am. In fact, I wanted to visit the toilet but couldn’t do so because I was afraid to come out of the room,” he said.

Another resident, who also didn’t want his name mentioned, narrated his ordeal. He said since the incident, most of them have been living in fear.

“We have been living in fear because just yesterday (Thursday) soldiers carried out a house-to-house search of our homes. They said they were here to see if we have weapons.

“I showed them around with touch light and they searched the whole house before they left. We are peace loving people; we don’t have guns. They left my house and searched all the houses in the village and found nothing,” he said.

He added that the soldiers didn’t harass anybody because they left as soon as they completed their assignment.

The Ward Head, Alhaji Sa’idu, confirmed the operations carried out by the soldiers.

“Yes, they also entered my house and searched but when they couldn’t find anything they left peacefully. We are not bothered with the presence of the security personnel in our village because we are law abiding citizens,” he said.

He also explained that it was not the first time gunmen carried out operation at the same spot the emir was attacked but that the emir’s attack was worse.

“Five days ago, I learnt there was a similar operation around that spot where the emir was attacked. And we are all afraid of our safety here due to our proximity to the area, “he said.

He said as ordinary people, they have nothing else to do than to resort to prayers for God to protect them and their village.

Most of the residents who gathered when our reporter visited the community all expressed the need for security vehicle to be stationed permanently in the village which is a stone throw from the highway.

When contacted, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division Headquarters Kaduna, Colonel Ezindu Idimah, confirmed the house-to-house search conducted in the area.

Idimah said the soldiers where in the area to search for arms and weapons.

According to him, “It is normal for soldiers to go on cordon and search where they suspect that criminals or bandits are operating to search for arms and weapons, but I will get back to you.”