How Kidnappers Killed Man While Attempting To Rescue Daughters-in-law

A 54-year-old man, Mr. Musa Adamu, has been shot dead while attempting to rescue wives of his son from suspected kidnappers in Minna, Niger State. This came barely 72 hours after the community paid N10 million ransom to secure the release of five of 10 members of the community abducted. The kidnappers were recently dislodged by the Inspector General of Police Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

But now, they are back in full force and appeared to be daring the IG and his men. The kidnappers have shifted their operations to Sarkin Pawa Road in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State. The road links the Kaduna highway.

It was learnt that the people of Zazzaga community in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State have continued to relocate in their hundreds, following the activities of kidnappers in the area. On Tuesday, gunmen again attacked the community and abducted three people.

The incident took place at Gidan Banobi village, about 2a.m., which is about 10 kilometres from Sarkin Pawa, the headquarters of Munya Local Government Area. The District Head of Zazzaga, Mr. Musa Umoru, who confirmed the latest attack, said the gunmen were earlier chased away from a nearby village called Sabon Gidan by local vigilantes. They later moved to Banobi village to wreak havoc.

He said: “These villages are among the few that the people are yet to move out. People have relocated from every other village in this community in the last one month. As I speak, people are moving to neighbouring villages.

This is because the government and security agencies have refused to come to our aid. My people have sold everything they have to pay ransom, including farm produce. We have made several complaints to the police, but they have not done anything.”

It was learnt that villages sacked so far by kidnappers are Fwapai, Tsoho Kabulo, Shehudna, Bakin Nyanyi, Mudungo, Rigogo, Bakin Dako and Sabo Gida all in the Kabila ward of Munya Local Government.

These villages have allegedly been occupied by the kidnappers for the past two weeks. Umoru noted that the entire Zazzaga community has about 50 villages and a population of over 1,000 inhabitants. The community, however, has just one police post, with only two policemen, who are without arms and ammunition.He added: “We have only two policemen posted to this community, but they don’t have guns.

They are just like members of the community because they don’t have any weapon to confront these kidnappers.” The senator representing the Niger East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru, has urged the police and other security agencies to come to the rescue of the affected villagers. Umaru said he and members of community had become refugees in neighbouring villages.

He said: “I have received several calls from villagers in Munya Local Government about the activities of kidnappers operating without challenge from security agencies. I was informed last week that about three persons were killed, while 10 other persons were kidnapped. Now, they have killed a man and abducted three more persons.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Peter Sunday, said that a combined team of the police and soldiers had been drafted to comb the area and rescue those abducted.