Hundreds of residents of Goni-Gora on Abuja-Kaduna expressway on Saturday trooped out to protest the ceaseless incidents of Kidnapping and killing in the area.
The residents lamented over the huge ransom often demanded by kidnappers saying they no longer live in peace as kidnappers now attack in broad daylight.
Leading the protesters, Mr. Joseph Adamgbo an aggrieved resident said the most worrisome is the killing of innocent relatives even after the payment of ransom.
”We are passing through a trying period in Kaduna State. No day passes without Kidnapping in Kaduna State. We are living a terrible life in the state.
His words: ” We are faced with a double tragedy. There has been a constant retrenchment of workers, both at the local government and state level. Their benefits are not being paid, and currently, there is no vacancy anywhere for new recruits. Farmers can no longer go to farm due to the dubious characters of Kidnappers and other criminal elements.”
Also, speaking to DAILY POST, a protester, Mrs Juliana James explained that they have fled their homes for fear of kidnap attacks.
“We relocated to a safer place since kidnappers came to our community to pick seven people three weeks ago. We are now tenants in another community, even as my husband is late.”
She appealed to Kaduna State Government to urgently come to their aid by providing security in the area to checkmate the activities of criminals.
DAILY POST recalls that banditry had increased in Kaduna and its environs in the last three months.
A few weeks ago, students of Greenfield University located along Kaduna-Abuja road were Kidnapped, after killing one of the school’s staff.
Two days later, three dead bodies of Kidnapped students were discovered near the school building. Kidnappers also demanded N800 million as a ransom for the remaining students held hostage and warned that more students would be killed if their demands are not met.
Unfortunately, while negotiations were ongoing, two more dead bodies were found.
A first-quarter report presented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan indicated that a total of 323 people were killed by bandits in Kaduna State between January and March 2021.
Aruwan explained that of the 323 people killed during the period under review, 292 were males and 20 were females.
