Kaduna youths on rampage over incessant kidnapping

Nasir El-rufai

By Simon Ujah, Kaduna

There was confusion in Kaduna, as angry youths blocked the popular Kachia road in Sabon Tasha, in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state on Saturday to demand protection and security of their community.

Our correspondent gathered that the rampaging youth protest was due to cases of kidnapping that took place in Juji community, in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

The protest took combined security forces of the Army, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, effort to disperse youths who marched from the community to kachia road in Sabon Tasha where they blocked the highway for close to an hour.

The protester set up bon fires for about thirty minutes preventing free flow of movement before the Kaduna Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army in a convoy of about six trucks arrived with armed soldiers, accompanied by Policemen from the Sabon Tasha to dispersed them.

The Brigade Commander appealed to them to go back to their community, assuring of adequate measures to protect them.

The youth leader of the community, Hosea Bawa told newsmen that they embarked on a peaceful protest against increasing cases of kidnapping in their area.

After they were dispersed, the Army convoy moved on to Juji were they consoled the victim, Dr. Philip Ataga, whose wife and two children were kidnapped early Saturday.

Dr. Ataga told newsmen at his Resident that he got home last midnight to find out that the kidnappers went away with his wife and children.

He said he has not been contacted by the gunmen to know if it’s a case of ransom kidnapping.

The security guard at the residence, Emmanuel Jatau, 21 years old from Kufena in Kajuru LGA l, told newsmen that he has been working in the house for over two months.

“I was ironing clothes with the generator, on. I was almost completing then I started hearing gun shots and I went to lock the gates and entered the room. Madam entered the house.

There were exchanging gunshots with policeman, trying to gain access. They broke through the fence and entered five of them.

“They escaped with the madam and children and asked me to lie down. I escaped to one of my friends house and came back at dawn,” he said.

Devastated Dr. Philip Ataga, whose wife and children were abducted in Juji, Sabon Tasha on Saturday January 25, 2020, explained that the operation took place from around 11pm till about 2am.
Councillor of Sabon Tasha Ward in Chikun LGA, Hon. Ganaka James Kogi who was also at the residence of the victim, told newsmen that it is unfortunate that the criminals have become more daring.

The victim, Dr. Ataga is the owner of the popular Ataga Scan and medicals in Kaduna as well as the Chris Joja Lounge, located in Sabon Tasha.