Hundreds of youths from Sarkin Noma Community in the Keana Local Government of Nasarawa State on Friday blocked the Makurdi highway to protest persistent invasion and kidnappings by gunmen in their area.
The youths, carrying placards with different inscriptions and leaves, blocked the road for several hours before the state Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro-Mohammed, pacified them to open the road for free-flow of traffic.
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‎A youth leader in the community, Ogu Iliya, told journalists that the protest was to draw the authorities’ attention to their plight and demand urgent intervention.
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‎Mr Illiya said that gunmen, numbering about 50, stormed the community at the early hours of November 7, shot intermittently and abducted an elderly resident, Matthew Anzaku.
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‎According to him, the youth mobilised in self-defence to rescue the kidnap victim, but two of the youths were unfortunately shot dead during the encounter.
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‎Mr Iliya explained that the latest attack and kidnapping had become too many, adding that the residents now live in fear and helplessness.
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‎He stated, “The gunmen terrorising us always attack any resident who goes to the market to sell his or her farm produce. The gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, come to kidnap them until ransom is paid. It has become unbearable and the elderly man abducted last night is still missing, and we don’t know his condition.’’
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‎The angry youths took the corpses of the two victims to the highway and blocked the road, halting vehicular movement along the busy Makurdi route.
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‎In a reaction, state Police Public Relations Officer, Rahman Nansel, said security operatives led by the CP restored calm to the area.
Mr Nansel added that the police would investigate the cause of the rampant kidnappings and ensure the perpetrators face justice.
(NAN)