Bandits abduct Kaduna village head, demand petrol, recharge cards

Bandits have abducted the Village Head of Rijana in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Ayuba Dodo Dakolo.

Daily Trust reports that the village head was abducted yesterday morning alongside other farmers on his farm at Kurmi near Chikwale village.

Our correspondent reports that Rijana, a community along the busy Abuja-Kaduna highway, has gained notoriety for attacks by bandits who usually block the highway to abduct travellers.

However, sources in Rijana told Daily Trust that the bandits had reached out to community leaders of Rijana and that negotiations had begun to get the village head released.

A source said, “We have been negotiating, they have not asked us for money, but they have demanded some items which we have taken to them, but they are still requesting for more.”

The source further told our correspondent that the bandits had earlier provided a list of items such as petrol, engine oil, motorcycle tyres and cigarettes; which he said they had provided.

He said, “We have spoken with the village head and he is fine. However, the bandits have provided a new list including recharge cards worth over N20,000. They have not asked for money, but we have spent over N200,000 in the last few hours to provide them the items on the list.”

Another source in Rijana said the bandits had threatened to kill the village head if they failed to provide the necessary items in good time.

He said, “They have told us that we will never see him again if we don’t hurry up. They claim they have not gone far with him and are within the area, and that if we don’t hurry, they will move him or kill him.”

Police spokesman in Kaduna State, ASP Mohammed Jalige, did not respond to calls on the abduction of the village head, but a senior police officer told Daily Trust that security agents had been notified of the development.