Some youths blocked the Kaduna-Abuja Highway on Saturday to protest the killing of four people and the abduction of 49 others by unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits in Kaduna State.
It was learnt that the incident which led to the death of the four persons, including a 13-year-old girl, occurred at Anguwar Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
The community, which is located on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, was said to have been attacked on Friday at about 10pm when the bandits, in their numbers, invaded the community.
According to residents of the community, the village head, his wife, and brother were also abducted in the attack.
“We cannot go to our farms and yet they will follow us to our homes to abduct us for ransom. They killed a 13-year-old girl, a security man in the village as well as abducted other residents including the family of the village head,” Daily Trust quoted a resident of the community as saying.
Another resident told the newspaper that the protesters refused to listen to the plea of security personnel who approached them.
“The villagers are very angry. They blocked the road and insisted that no one will pass through. When security personnel came, the men withdrew and left their women on the road,” the person said.
Another resident who spoke to TheCable bemoaned the spate of attacks the community had come under during the week.
“On Tuesday the bandits invaded the community killed two people and abducted 15 others. On Thursday, they came back again and killed two people and kidnapped 14,
“Yesterday (Friday) at about 10pm they came and killed two people and kidnapped 20 others including the Chief, his brother and wife.
“Throughout this week, our community had been under constant attack by bandits.
“This angered the youths and this morning (Saturday), they blocked the Kaduna -Abuja road by the overhead bridge, to expressed their frustration over the security situation.”
ASP Jalige Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna State, said the Commissioner of police, Umar Muri, has directed the Area Commander to visit the scene of the protest and ensure orderliness.
