Gunmen suspected of kidnapping have been spreading havoc in towns in Bauchi State’s Ningi Local Government Area.
According to reports, an estimated N50 million in ransom has been paid for kidnapped individuals, with four additional people taken within a week and one injured.
The occurrences have created palpable panic among the residents of the impacted areas, since the alleged kidnappers’ operations show no indications of abating.
Mr Daniel, an Igbo businessman, was kidnapped in Gamji village on Friday.
The kidnappers, who came about 8:40 p.m., fired warning shots to scare the villagers before targeting and fleeing with their victim. They are reportedly demanding an undisclosed quantity of money in exchange for their release.
In another case, kidnappers attacked Tabla village and grabbed Yahaya, a 45-year-old man. The victim’s family has received a N10 million ransom demand for his release.
According to sources, a 55-year-old businessman named Alhaji Muhammadu Kazami was kidnapped in Shande village last Saturday.
The kidnappers then proceeded to Ruwan Dinya village, where they seized a 40-year-old man called Bala El-B after wrecking motorcycles and breaking into shops in Kuluki.
A young child named Abubakar Garba was shot and injured during the abduction. He was brought to Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, for medical care at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
Kidnappers’ activities have caused instability and concern in the impacted communities.
Residents are turning to prayer for comfort, while also pleading with the state government and security services to intervene and save them from the threat of kidnappers.
Attempts to gain a reaction from the state police command were fruitless as of the time of reporting, with the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, apparently out of the country.
