Kidnapping: Save us from ‘Gajere’ atrocities – Zamfara communities
Residents of Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State have appealed to the Federal Government to protect them from the atrocities of a notorious kidnapper in the LG identified as ‘Gajere’.
In a chat with Daily Trust yesterday, the residents said the communities of Duhuwa, Dawan Jiya, Gobirawa and Tungar Daji of Anka LG have been living in fear because of the man.
‘Gajere’ who is of Hausa extraction but later grew up at herders’ villages is said to have imbibed the culture of impunity and crime after joining gangs of rustlers and armed bandits attacking communities.
“He took to kidnapping and is the most dangerous kidnapper here. Most of the kidnapping that are taking place in the communities are masterminded by him. He collected millions of naira in ransom and he is still being paid ransom whenever his gang abducts any residents.
“We are being seriously dehumanised by the gang at his command. Up to the time I’m talking to you one resident was abducted and N3 million placed on him as ransom.
“There was a time he demanded that residents of our community of Kawaye to produce N3 million to be free of attacks. We mobilised and went house to house to raise the said amount and nothing was done by the authorities to avert the situation,” a resident Aminu Kawaye lamented.
Other sources at the communities told Daily Trust that ‘Gajere’ was the brain behind the attacks on security operatives stationed at the area and burning of their patrol vehicles a year ago.
“He moves freely wielding rifles and no one dares to confront him. He visits most of our communities on motorbike to buy whatever he wants and your earlier acquaintance with him won’t stop him from abducting you for ransom.
“We are begging the Federal Government to come to our rescue otherwise ‘Gajere‘ will completely impoverish our people through ransom collection,” the source added.
The spokesman of the state police command, DSP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.