Insecurity: Protesting Villagers Block Kaduna-Abuja Highway

Worried by insecurity in their area, which resulted in the kidnapping of some villagers, angry residents of Kakau Ward in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday morning blocked the ever-busy Kaduna-Abuja Highway.

They were protesting regular attacks on their community, which they claimed led to the loss of four lives.

According to a 49-year-old resident of the community, Alhaji Ibrahima Dauda, they have had sleepless nights for months as kidnappers always attack them, and dispossess them of their valuables before taking their neighbors to their den.

“We are tired of kidnappers who at will invaded our community to abduct our natives and residents. Just four weeks ago, four of our members were kidnapped. A large sum of money was demanded. We are peasant farmers, we don’t have much money to pay.

“For weeks, we did not sleep due to fear of attack. ” Dauda said

An eyewitness on the scene, claims that the blockade which started Friday night, was around Ungwan Doma before Kakau, along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.

In an interview, Madam Rose Gimba, who lives in the community, said that the villagers blocked the road to draw the government’s attention to their plight.

Also, a young man identified as Moses Obafemi who said he was on his way to Abuja, said he trekked after the flyover to board a vehicle to Abuja, but still could not get any incoming vehicle due to roadblock by villagers.

The Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mohammed Jalige, did not pick calls made to his phone. Text messages sent to him were also not replied.