- By Halimah Olamide
They’ve sold all that they harvested and some even sold their lands just to raise money for the ransom of their loved ones
No fewer than eighteen people have been abducted with two others killed in a fresh attack in Ungwan Dantata in the Gefe community of Kallah Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to a resident of the area, the community was invaded by bandits on Monday morning at exactly 10am, shooting sporadically.
The two persons killed were identified as Ezra Badama and Nagode Ibro.
Meanwhile those abducted include Nehemiah Sukuni, Rebecca Nehemiah, Sadam Gane, Alice Sadam, Jashu’a Sukuni, Rhoda Isaac, Isaac Dako, Patience Godwin, A’ishatu Ezra, Damaris Nathan, Justina Afis, Gabriela Nathan, Daniela Nehemiah, Jackson Sadam, Amame Ezra, Benedict Monday, Enoch Yohanna and Igwe Saleh.
According to the resident, since November last year, terrorists have been constantly disturbing the people of Gefe community, who he said have spent a fortune on ransom payments.
“This community is in dire need of government support and their major activity is farming. We’re already in the rainy season now and most of them cannot access their farmlands for fear of being kidnapped.
“They’ve sold all that they harvested and some even sold their lands just to raise money for the ransom of their loved ones.
“We need government intervention like; food and fertilizer to help cushion the effect of hunger in our community.
“We’re appealing to the government to assist deploy security operatives in the area to help restore the confidence of the community. Some victims had earlier told us that they trek with terrorists passing different villages and crossing major roads to their destination.
“Having security forces around the area will help in apprehending these terrorists that have been causing nightmares in our communities. There are vantage positions where security forces can block the moment people are kidnapped or killed by terrorists,” the source said.
The resident further added that the families of the abducted residents have not been contacted for ransom, while the two dead victims were buried on Tuesday, 7th May 2024, according to Christian rites.