Residents of Danhonu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Monday staged a protest over repeated kidnapping incidents, following the abduction of seven persons by suspected bandits.
The protesters marched to the Millennium City divisional police headquarters, where they blocked a major access road, chanting solidarity songs and demanding urgent security intervention from authorities.
The latest abduction occurred around 11:30 pm on Sunday, when armed men reportedly stormed the community and whisked away members of two families.
Those kidnapped were identified as Yahaya Yusuf, his wife, Latifat Yusuf, and their two sons, Abdulgafar and Abdulqudus.
Also abducted were Mrs. Abdulrazak Jimoh and two of her children, whose identities had not been confirmed as of press time.
Residents said the attack had deepened fear in the community, noting that at least 11 kidnapping cases had been recorded in the area within the last few months.
Some protesters alleged that the attacks appeared targeted at non-indigenes residing in the community, raising concerns that informants within the area might be aiding the kidnappers.
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Chairman of the Danhonu II Landlords Association and leader of the protest, Akoh Salifu, said the community had reached a breaking point.
“We can no longer live in peace. The pressure from these repeated kidnappings has become unbearable,” Salifu said.
“Some youths tried to chase the kidnappers into the bush, but they could not catch them.”
He added that the decision to march to the police station was to formally register the community’s grievances and demand immediate action.
“As law-abiding citizens, we came here to cry out for help and to ask for urgent intervention to save our community,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the police received a distress call and responded alongside soldiers.
Hassan, however, said the security team arrived after the bandits had fled due to poor road access and difficult terrain, despite an exchange of gunfire.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, had visited the community and met with stakeholders, assuring residents that the command was considering the establishment of a police outpost in the area.
