Anxiety as kidnappers run riot in Jalingo metropolis

Anxiety has gripped residents of Taraba State following an increase in kidnapping cases, which they said are casting doubts on Governor Agbu Kefas’ move to attract international investors to the state.
The Guardian gathered that several people have recently been kidnapped, including a lawyer in the Mayo-Dasa area of Jalingo metropolis.

Some residents from the community, who spoke with The Guardian, said they now hardly go to bed now with their two eyes closed.

Reeling out names of persons who have been kidnapped within the last three days, the residents stressed the need for security operatives, especially the police to mount surveillance in the areas.

Confirming the report, spokesperson for the state’s police command, Abdullahi Usman, said the command is already on top of the situation.

He, however, said only three cases of kidnapping were reported to the police, which occurred on August 26, 27, and 28.

According to him, the kidnappers shot indiscriminately in the air to scare residents, while escaping with their victims.

He blamed the attacks on lack of communication, stating that none of the people of the community deemed it fit to contact the police during and even after the incidents.

“Lack of communication was the main problem. During the time of these kidnappings, nobody called or informed the police. During the last incident, the police were only informed at about 7:00 a.m.,” he said.

To avert future occurrences, he said the command has released mobile phone numbers of some senior police officers to residents of the area.

Usman assured that the police are working hard to ensure arrests were made.

“We are tracking them. We have their location. The state intelligence bureau is working on it,” he added.