Bandits kidnapped 87 more people in Nigeria's volatile northwest Kaduna State

By Timothy Olanrewaju

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) – Bandits have abducted over 80 people in a fresh attack on Nigeria's volatile northwest Kaduna State, residents said on Monday.

Armed bandits stormed the Tantau ward of Kajuru Local Government in Kaduna State late Sunday night and began firing sporadically until early Monday to instill fear among locals, 58-year-old local trader Isah Musa told Anadolu on the phone.

"The attackers shot sporadically to cause panic everywhere, and for more than an hour, all I heard was gunshots. We began checking families in the morning and found that approximately 87 people were missing," Musa said, claiming that they had been kidnapped by bandits.

Ishiyaku Bala, a member of Kajuru Youth Forum said the bandits also looted some local shops before escaping with the victims. He blamed security agencies for failing to respond on time to secure the area and protect people from the bandits' attack.

Mansir Hassan, a spokesman for Kaduna State police, was contacted by Anadolu to confirm the attack and kidnapping incident. However, he has not responded until the report has been filed.

The incident was one of several abductions by armed and terrorist groups in Nigeria. It latest incident occurred just two weeks after another mass abduction in the region.

On March 7, a total of 287 students, the head teacher and some staff were kidnapped in a public school at Chikun Local Government in Kaduna State. The abductors are demanding ransoms to free the students according to the school authority. Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Saturday however, warned against payment of ransoms to bandits, terrorists or armed groups for the release of abductees.