Security
Suspected Terrorists Reportedly Kidnap 56 Residents In Niger Community, Demand N200 Million Ransom
According to residents of the community who shared the incident on their social media pages, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N200 million in order to release the abducted residents.
Suspected terrorists have reportedly kidnapped no fewer than 56 people during a fresh attack on Adara town in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger state, north central Nigeria.
The attack occurred in the middle of March, while residents of the community and its environs were mourning the death of Rev Fr Isaac Achi, who was brutally murdered by suspected assassins in the state in January.
According to residents of the community who shared the incident on their social media pages, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N200 million in order to release the abducted residents.
In a Facebook post, Edward Simon Buju lamented how the attack has harmed the community’s socioeconomic situation, claiming that farmers in the area no longer go to their farms for fear of being attacked.
Edward went on to say that one of the abducted victims was killed by the gunmen because he refused to follow them to their new location.
His post reads: “Adunu is an Adara town in paikoro local government of Niger state a town full of love, peace and unity, has now been invaded by herdsmen who kills and kidnapped this Citizens in numbers.
“The Federal government and the government of Niger state should as a matter of urgency come to their aides to save them from this bandit who have been terrorising these community day in day out (sic).
“Early this month about 56 members of this community kidnapped by bandits that invaded the community numbering about 200 in numbers. Just this morning I got a shocking news that my friend who was also kidnapped by name Arada system was kill, because the bandits wanted to change their location and he complained that he has serious wound that won’t let him to Trek for a long distance, these heartless bandits shot him dead and send some women to inform the community.
“The kidnappers were asking for 200 millions for the people of about fifty something and where on earth will this money come from, this farmers don’t longer go to there farms.
“Pls I am calling on Foriegn NGO to come to the aides of this community to save them from hungry, and many other social amenities that they also need. Adunu a town bleeding No.”
Another social media user, identified as Jdpc Minna who claimed to be privy to the incident equally explained in detail how the attack occurred.
According to him, the terrorists stormed Adara town and its environs during the day while residents were conducting mass to mourn the death of Rev Fr Isaac Achi.
He continued: “While this Mass was going on, over 300 bandits surrounded the Adunu and Kwagana villages, less than 15 kilometers away from Kaffin-koro, abducting over 100 persons, destroying homes and looting shops in an uninterrupted operation that lasted over five (5) hours. They equally attacked Nanati, Beni, and Abolo communities among others.
“Hundreds were abducted in the process; scores were injured; couples abducted with recklessness. One of the nursing mothers (name withheld) had her infant thrown off her back and the mother kidnapped.
“Many others went through terrible, untold experiences. A health practitioner, Mr Joshua Galadima Bitrus, was shot dead by the bandits on the same day around Kwagana.
It was reported to the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission, Minna (a faith-based Non-governmental Organization) by eyewitnesses in real
time.
“One eyewitness (name withheld) stated that “the bandits abducted as many as they could find. In fact, they went house by house, kidnapping, looting and destroying properties.”
He equally stated that “while some escaped when they got into the forests, over 56 identified persons are still in captivity”.
It must be stated that there is scarcely any security presence in Adunu and its environs despite the constant attacks on the people of that axis over the years.
These people are now internally displaced persons and aliens in their home country: living in perpetual fear; and now, with their homes and properties destroyed by the bandits, they are helpless.
It is to be noted that this took place on Tuesday, 14th of March, 2023, barely four (4) days to the 2023 Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said that while the bandits were raiding the houses, they kept shouting that “the people of Adunu must suffer for refusing to vote a particular political party during the just concluded Presidential elections.”
“The people of Adunu and environs have, over the years, been abandoned in terms of infrastructural development and provision of basic amenities, with one of the most dilapidated roads in Niger State, and school buildings that are best described as “collapsed”; yet they cannot go about their farming activities peacefully for fear of being kidnapped or even killed by the men of the underworld.
“Writing on behalf of “FREEDOM FOR #ADUNU56”, a concerned group of people from Adunu and environs, Gideon Bahago stated, “We demand the:
“Unconditional release of 56 members of our community kidnapped on the 14/03/2023 in Adunu by a notorious group of armed bandits.
“To bring to notice of national and international communities to the frequent injustices meted out on our people occasionally and demand this ugly trend stop.
“We demand that the Niger state government wake to her constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives of all her indigenes and Citizens alike.
“Demand that Security Agencies who are paid with taxpayers money rise to the occasion by immediately swinging into action in order to arrest the perpetrators of this ugly act while also ensuring that our people return to their respective families.
“Be of help where necessary to ensure the freedom of our people still in captivity via Legal means, awareness such as the #Adun56, peaceful protest and many others.
“We demand that security agencies i.e Police and Army units, formations and/or battalions be installed in our land to avert future occurrences.
“Due to lives lost and properties destroyed, Government should do so, as a matter of urgency, compensate families and victims.
“And or provide basic social amenities in communities affected where such have been tampered with. We therefore call on the Niger State government to respond quickly on this matter by ensuring that the kidnapped persons are released safely to their families, and that security is provided in order to prevent future attacks or abductions.”
“We equally call on the State and Local Government to activate an Emergency Response Team to address the material and psychological needs of the people especially in Adunu, Kwagana and environs,” his post concluded.
Meanwhile, when SaharaReporters contacted state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun for comment, he promised to respond once his investigation was completed. However, as of the time of filing this report, the police spokesman had not responded to a message requesting his comment on the matter.
Residents of Otukpo in Benue south district have staged a protest against the incessant cases of kidnappings and killings by suspected herdsmen.
The Tuesday demonstration saw protesters, mostly youths, occupy the Otukpo-Enugu federal highway, calling on the government to address the growing insecurity in the state.
There has been a surge in cases of killings and kidnappings allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen in several LGAs in Benue state.
When contacted, Catherine Anene, the police spokesperson in the state, told TheCable that the protest was brought under control by security operatives.
“The protest is under control at the moment; we would let you know as soon as there is further information,” Anene said.
On March 10, 13 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed in an attack by suspected herdsmen on Katsina Ala LGA of the state.
The gunmen were said to have attacked several communities, including Utange council, Kpav, Dikpo, and the Imande Gberihwa area of the state.
The Takum Renaissance Forum(TRF)has condemned a press release issue by STYCOP headed by Rikwensi Muri associating’s increasing surge in insecurity and unrest in Southern Taraba to former Takum local government chairman Shiban Tikari.
In a statement issue by the group secretary Emmanuel Joro, it says for the avoidance of doubt, they wouldn’t have dabbled into the issue, but for the sake of records, they’ve chosen to react.
In Muri’s press release which states that “We must also remember the actions of Hon. Shiban Tikari, former chairman of Takum Local Government Council, who similarly exploited the “Tiv Militias,” “Kuteb Militias,” and “Fulani Militias” narrative to destabilize the region”.
The Group responded by saying “It is on records that Hon. Shiban stabilized the atmosphere of Takum and environs during his tenure. His administration was not marred by state-sponsored kidnappings, murders and sacking of more than 100 communities by mercenary bandits brought against the Kuteb communities as claimed by Rikwensi Muri, in his usual false accusations. Muri and his co-travellers are the same ones who were bent on throwing Takum and Ussa communities into the pool of crisis. Everybody knew it. Fulani herdsmen were said to have paid millions to their kuteb Chiefs before being given permission to bring their cows to graze in ussa LGA. Muri is quiet about it.”
The group further stated that the former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku agreed to compensate the herders on the lost of their cows to stop attacking Kuteb communities, but instead after the money had come to their possession for compensation to be paid to the Fulani, it was diverted. They instead opted for the money to be used for arms procurement to fight the Fulani herdsmen.
“Why are the likes of Muri and their cohorts, who wanted war with Fulani and called for it, still turning around to blame Gov DDI led administration alongside the then chairmen of Takum and Wukari for their woes”?
“It’s good to note that we are above media trials and other sensational lies to curry public sympathy. Muri has been attacking the image of the Governor of Taraba state, Dr Agbu Kefas and other notable personalities in the state like our fathers, Gen TY Danjuma and the Aku Uka, The Chief of Takum and other notable personalities, but we are not beginning to take this as an exception. Muri’s height of media rascality is a charade taken far”.
“Of all these, none of us or even the authority have chosen to arrest him for defamation. Why? Because of his lunatic approaches and the cheap relevance he is looking for, we can’t give him. The public is always aware of his sponsors and where he is driving. But we repeat, with exception, if he decides to take this further because at hand, we are beginning to gather his incisive and inflammatory posts for litigation against him in court” the statement reads.
The group further highlights that Muri press Release is to incite the gullible public against Hon. Shiban over lies and fabrication of falsehood and also maliciously attacking the present chairman of Wukari local government, Hon Agbu Samaila “having known that the attackers of those innocent KYK members of CRCN in Jootar were Tiv militia, those he has been calling for coalition with”.
The group defend that Hon. Shiban Tikari has never been on the run, but in his hometown in Takum. And the media trial being stage-managed by Muri to demean his image has long fallen.
“We are therefore calling on the general public to be wary with the activities of the so-called STYCOP being handled by Muri. It is not a peace building organization as being peddled but an organization aimed at stirring chaos in the southern part of Taraba state. It is a potential terrorist breeding camp”.
President Bola Tinubu has given marching orders to security agencies to fish out those behind the killing of some travellers in Edo State.
The victims, who were said to be travelling from Port Harcourt to the northern part of Nigeria, were allegedly killed by a mob in Uromi, Edo State, on Thursday.
While reacting to the incident, President Bola Tinubu described it as dastardly.
“The President, who expressed shock at the dastardly act on Thursday, directed Police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Friday.
The President noted that jungle justice has no place in Nigeria, and all Nigerians have the freedom to move freely in any part of the country.
Tinubu condoled with the families of the affected people and assured them “that criminals would not be allowed to shed the blood of innocent Nigerians in vain”.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has visited the community, condemning the killing of the travellers.
The governor described the incident as barbaric, according to a statement from his spokesman Fred Itua, and ordered a full-scale investigation into the killing.
“The Governor directed the State Police Command and other security agencies to conduct thorough and speedy investigations into the matter and bring those found culpable to book. He also charged the community to work with the security agencies to fish out the culprits,” Itua said in a statement on Friday
“Governor Okpebholo also commended community leaders, especially the leadership of Arewa community in the area, for deescalating tensions and handling the situation with restrain.”
The governor promised justice for the victims and maintained that there is “no excuse for the vigilante members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies”.