Gunmen abduct 26 in Kaduna, Katsina
• SSG’S brother regains freedom • CNG lauds govt’s renewed efforts against insecurity
GUNMEN have abducted 26 persons in Kaduna and Katsina states. The victims include three children of the Deputy Provost, Katsina State College of Education ( COE), and a former director of National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC) and her daughter.
However, kidnappers have released the elder brother to the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Katsina.
The bandits stormed Keke community in Chikun Local Council of Kaduna State, and kidnapped no fewer than 18 persons.
According to a resident, Ibrahim Nasir, the bandits came through a neighbouring community on Monday night and started shooting sporadically.
He said: “They started moving from house to house chasing the people out of their houses. At the end of it, 18 people, mostly women and children, were abducted.”
At the time of filing this report, the police and the state government were yet to make statements concerning the abduction.
SIMILARLY, bandits abducted three children of the Deputy Provost, Isa Kaita College of Education ( IKCOE), Dutsinma, Katsina State, Dr. Ismaila Ado Funtua.
The incident occurred about 1.00a. m. on Tuesday within the staff quarters of the collage.
A dependable source said the gunmen collapsed part of the school fencing before having access to the victim’s residence.
RELATEDLY, former General Manager of the Katsina State Television ( KTTV), Ahmed Abdulkadir, and his teenage daughter were abducted about the same time.
The gunmen, who stormed Shema Quarters in Bakori Local Council, were reportedly in possession of sophisticated weapons, shot sporadically to scare residents away before whisking Abdulkadir and his daughter away, along with three other persons.
Abdulkadir is a retired NBC director.
However, abductors have released the elder brother to the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Kabir Inuwa.
Kabir, 78, was abducted on September 1, when he went to check his farm at Daftau community, in Danmusa Local Council.
The abductors, it was learnt, initially demanded N50 million ransom, but the Inuwa family negotiated N10 million.
It was, however, gathered that no ransom was paid before he was freed.
A source said that the police have arrested the informant, who sold out the septuagenarian, and some relations of the kidnappers.
MEANWHILE, the Coalition of Northern Groups ( CNG) has applauded the renewed measures taken by the federal and northern state governments to curb the security challenges that pervade parts of the north.
CNG also noted the fighting spirit of the federal troops, improved cooperation from other security services and the awakened sense of responsibility in the hitherto affrighted northern communities.