KADUNA: Bandits demand N350 million to free ’77 persons’ abducted from Adara

THE Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) has disclosed that 72, and not 66, natives of  Adara community  in Kajuru local government area of the state are languishing in kidnappers’ den.

The union had initially said the spate of mass abductions rocking  Kaduna state was underreported by the government, noting that 55 residents of Adara community were in captivity after 10 escaped from the kidnappers’ den.

However, abductors of the residents have confirmed that they have 77 persons in their clutches, demanding N350million as ransom for their release.

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, spokesman, Luka Binniyat, however, dismissed the abductors’ claim saying after the latest village headcount, 72 persons were  missing.

 Binniyat said the victims are  made up of 16 males and 56 females.”

He said, “It will, therefore, mean that the kidnappers have captured some other persons to make up for the 77 captives they are claiming. Surprisingly, Kaduna State Government that has made it a habit of churning out daily updates on the security situation in Kaduna state has not made any mention of this mass abduction which occurred in Libere Gida around 11:30 pm of the 22nd April, 2021.”

The statement added that Libere is close to the three major IDP camps in Kajuru local government area, in Kallah town, Geffe and Rimau where not less than 5,000 have been staying under subhuman conditions since they were chased out from their various villages in May 2020 by armed Fulani herdsmen.

SOKAPU lamented that the Kaduna state government has never visited or mentioned their existence not to talk of assisting them with any relief material.

The statement noted that in the past one week, communities of Libere village in Kallah ward, Kujeni and part of Kutura in Tantatu ward, including Kurmin Wali in Afogo ward have been deserted.

In Tantatu Ward, the statement said villages like

Edanu, Ungwan Mudi, Ungwan Rana, Ifele and Ungwan Gora have been taken over by the armed bandits.