Allegedly demand N40tr ransom for 16 Kaduna captives
No fewer than seven people have been reportedly shot dead, while several others sustained injuries after bandits invaded a market in Zurak Campani, Wase Local Council of Plateau State.
It was learnt that the incident occurred on market day when the community was bubbling with commercial activities. A youth leader, Abdullahi Hussaini, who confirmed the development, told newsmen that the gunmen stormed the market around 2:00p.m. on Sunday and immediately opened fire on those transacting businesses.
He said: “The gunmen arrived at the market in their numbers on motorcycles. They started shooting sporadically, killing seven people instantly, while many others were injured. The gunmen successfully launched the attack and fled without any resistance because people were not expecting any security threat now.
“The gunmen fled into the bush, but police personnel have been deployed to the community to restore law and order. We are calling on more security deployment in the area because we don’t know what may happen anytime soon.”Contacted for confirmation, spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, did not respond to inquiries.
MEANWHILE, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has charged Muslim faithful to pray for peace and prosperity in the state. The appeal, which was contained in his Ramadan message to the Muslim community, reads in part: “Ramadan is a season of love, care, supplication. I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes on behalf of the Government and the peace-loving people of Plateau State.”
BESIDES, gunmen have abducted a Chinese in Ilorin, Kwara State. The masked abductors shot their way into an isolated facility at the Eiyenkorin area of the state, where the foreign national had lodged for over two months.
According to a police source, three suspects have so far been arrested in connection to the abduction. The incident happened at Cherish Guest on Sunday at about 8p.m., the source added.
On gaining entry, they opened sporadic fire to scare away likely intruders. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Ejire-Adeyemi Adetoun, confirmed that “six armed men had forcibly entered the guest house and abducted a Chinese national identified as Williams Zang.”
According to her, Williams is a former employee of Erkang Quarry. She added: “The assailants utilised the manager’s vehicle, a black Toyota Venza, with registration number Lagos FST 701 HG to transport the victim.
“Subsequently, our tactical teams combed the entire area and its neighborhoods. This led to the recovery of the aforementioned vehicle along Ilorin/Ogbomosho road at about 0030Hrs.
“It is suspected that the perpetrators employed a standby motorcycle to transport the victim further into the bush from the main road. At present, three suspects have been apprehended, and investigations are ongoing.”
ALSO, kidnappers of the 16 Kaduna residents have allegedly demanded a N40 trillion ransom for release of the locals abducted from the Gonin Gora area of the state.
Addressing reporters yesterday, a community leader, John Yusuf, said the bandits, who contacted family members of the victims, also demanded 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles.
This is the first time bandits would make such a huge demand since commencement of abduction for ransom in Nigeria. On February 28, hoodlums killed two residents of Anguwan Auta in Gonin Gora and abducted several others.
After the attack, residents on February 29, blocked the Kaduna-Abuja highway for several hours to protest the killing and abduction. Yusuf said the bandits attacked the community twice within the week.
He confirmed: “The bandits have contacted us. They are demanding N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles for the release of 16 people they are holding captive.”
The community leader continued: “Where are we going to get this kind of money? Even if we sell the entire community, we cannot raise N40 trillion. Even Nigeria, as a country, has never made a budget of N40 trillion.
“The abductions happened twice within a four-day interval. During the first attack, three people were kidnapped, while in the second attack, 13 people were abducted, bringing the total number of people being held captive to 16.”
He explained that the communities in Birnin Gwari are surrounded by bushes that serve as hideouts for the bandits, adding that the establishment of a military base would tackle the criminal operations in the area.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid by establishing a military base behind our community, where the bandits take advantage of the bushes to invade our settlement,” Yusuf added.
