Save us from kidnappers, bandits – Katsina community

Residents of Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State have sent a save our soul (SOS) request to security agencies to come to their aid over kidnapping and banditry cases.

Some of them told Daily Trust that no week passed without a reported case of banditry or kidnap for ransom.

Most of those spoken to choose to speak anonymously for fear of being tracked by the criminals. A school teacher, who pleaded anonymity, said a seven-month pregnant woman was kidnapped and her father had to pay N200,000 to secure her release. He also talked about the kidnap of a businessman Naruwa, whose family paid N500,000 to get him released.

A man who was attacked in a foiled kidnap showed his wounds while narrating his experience. “I was asleep when the bandits stormed our house asking for our father. When I heard them, I confronted them and one shot at me; I narrowly escaped being killed.”

He said just behind their town, especially around Gurbin Baure, small boys can be seen carrying weapons. “We strongly believe they are kidnappers,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Usman Abdullahi, said the command was doing everything possible to address the situation. “The police were not aware of most of the cases as people failed to report them for appropriate action to be taken.”

He urged people to feel free to report as information was treated with confidentiality.