17 family members abducted in Kaduna

Twenty-one people, including 17 family members, have been abducted from Udawa village in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state.

The abductions took place in two separate incidents over the weekend.

Liman Hussaini, a community leader in Udawa who confirmed the incident, said unknown gunmen stormed the area and started shooting sporadically, leaving several persons injured.

According to Hussaini, four people were kidnapped on Friday, while 17 others were abducted on Saturday on their way to the farm at about 7am.

Four other relatives of the family members who were abducted on Saturday were rushed to a hospital in Kaduna, following injuries sustained during the attack.

“Yesterday, a family of 21 were going to the farm, but about one and a half kilometres away from home, they were attacked by gunmen. Four of them sustained serious injuries from gunshots while 17 of them were abducted,” he said.

“Also, on Friday, at about 7am, four people were abducted while on their way to the farm.

“You know there is serious hunger. People are finding it very difficult to feed, but now that the maize is done, many families depend on it to feed. We have started harvesting maize which we use for feeding because there is no food.

“The head of this family of 21 was riding on a bike with one of his sons and two daughters to the farm when the bandits opened fire on them after abducting 17 members of the family.

“The man was shot on the leg; the son was shot in the mouth. One of the daughters was shot on the chest; the other daughter was shot on the hand. The four of them were taken to a hospital in Kaduna.”

Hussaini added that although security personnel are stationed in Udawa, “by the time they got to the scene of the incident, the bandits had escaped to the bushes with their victims.”

He lamented the security situation in the area, stating that the villagers risked hunger if they don’t go the farms.

“This is what has been happening in our community. Going to the farm is a serious risk. On the other hand, if you dont go to the farm, hunger will kill you and your family. So, we are faced with two dangerous options,” he added.

Mohammed Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, could not be reached for reaction on the incident at the time of this report, as his mobile phone was switched off.