Bandits kidnap over 70 Kano-bound traders, others in Kaduna

*9 worshippers abducted in Enugu

*Gunmen attack Katsina villages, kill 7, kidnap others

NO fewer than 70 traders travelling to Kano were reportedly abducted, yesterday, along the dreaded Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road. 

This came as nine persons, including six women, two men and a baby were allegedly kidnapped along Okpokwu Agamede in Eha-Amufu,  Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, Monday evening.

Meanwhile, armed men, Tuesday night, attacked two villages in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing seven persons while some residents were kidnapped.

In the Kaduna attack, journalists were told that the traders’ convoy was attacked by bandits in the morning, who later took them into the forests. 

An eyewitness, Malam Umaru, said the traders were travelling in a convoy of over 20 vehicles with police escort. 

According to him, the bandits struck at a bend near Udawa after Buruku, abducting no fewer than 70 traders from Umaru’s community and scores of others from neighbouring villages.

He said calls put through the phones of some of the missing traders were answered by the bandits, giving credence that about a hundred traders were in captivity. 

Reaction from the police in Kaduna State on the incident, was still being awaited at press time.

9 worshippers kidnapped in Enugu

It was learnt that the abductees boarded a commercial tricycle otherwise known as Keke napep when their captors ambushed them and took them to an unknown destination.

It was gathered that the kidnappers later released the two men, a nursing mother and her baby, but kept the remaining five women in their custody.

The Parish Priest of the St Mary’s Catholic Church, Odenigbo Eha-Amufu, Rev Fr Emma Nnadi, who broke the news to a WhatsApp group of reverend fathers and monsignors, yesterday, morning wrote: “Good morning dear Msgr/Frs.

“Yesterday evening (Monday) kidnappers stormed one of my outstations, Okpokwu, and kidnapped eight persons (two men, six women and a baby). They later freed the men and a woman with her baby. With them now are four of my CWO members of the outstation, including their chairlady.

"For now, nothing has been heard about them. Keep them and all of us in your prayers, pls (please).”

Other sources from the affected community, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that  fear has enveloped the whole community.

Meanwhile, Rev Fr Titus Ogbu, who was returning from the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, where he is doing a diploma programme in Education was equally kidnapped within the pipeline axis along Eha-Amufu Road in the same council area.

Contacted, spokesperson of Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, denied knowledge of the incident, saying: “I don’t have such report.” 

Gunmen attack Katsina villages, kill 7, kidnap others

A resident of Unguwar Ibrahim Maiwada said two persons were killed during the attack while five women were kidnapped.

Lawal Mamman, a native of the area, who lives in Katsina town said the attacks commenced at about 9 p.m at Unguwar Ibrahim Maiwada and Kanon Haki villages.

“They operated from around 9 p.m. to the early morning in the Unguwar Ibrahim Maiwada before they went to Kanon Haki on the Zaria-Sokoto highway. My brother told me that he has seen the corpses of the five people killed in Kanon Haki while several others were injured,” Mr Mamman said in a phone interview.

He said the whereabouts of six vigilante members who tried to confront the bandits could not be ascertained at press time, but residents fear they may have been killed by the bandits.

A resident of Unguwar Ibrahim Maiwada said two people were killed during the attack while five women were kidnapped.

“What we learned from the vigilante members that followed them was that they (bandits) divided themselves into two groups. While some returned to Kanon Haki to launch an attack, others went into the bush with the five women abducted,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Katsina police spokesperson, Gambo Isa, were unsuccessful as he did not return calls nor reply to messages sent to him.

Culled from Vanguard