Gunmen kill one person and kidnap four in Bauchi attacks

Dass Local Government Area in Bauchi State is facing serious security problems. There have been separate attacks by suspected kidnappers that left one person dead and four others taken away in just two weeks.

Maryam Bagel, a former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, raised the alarm on Facebook on Wednesday. She is worried about the growing security challenges in the area.

Bagel said the attacks happened in Kagadama and Bagel villages. Armed men targeted the residents during these attacks.

She reported that four people were taken in Kagadama. Another resident was shot dead in Bagel while he was with his family.

“Four people were kidnapped in Kagadama village, and one person was killed in the presence of his own family in my own village of Bagel,” she wrote.

The first victim taken was a pharmacy owner in Kagadama. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N50 million for his release.

“The first person kidnapped was a pharmacy owner operating in Kagadama. They demanded N50m to release him. Where are they expecting a village pharmacy owner to have N50m? I wonder,” she said.

Bagel also claimed the gunmen came back less than a week later. They attacked another resident named Shahibi, who had been kidnapped about a year before.

“Less than a week after, they went to kidnap Shahibi, who was earlier kidnapped barely a year ago in my village, and they killed him with several bullets in the chest and stomach in the presence of his wife, who happens to be my cousin, and their children,” she explained.

Bagel mentioned that the attackers returned to Kagadama on Tuesday. They tried to abduct a shop owner but the intended victim escaped after the gunmen shot at him.

The gunmen then took three other people, including a 10-year-old boy who was in the shop, a young man who had just come back from the hospital, and another resident.

The former lawmaker called on security agencies to step up efforts in Dass Local Government Area. She wants the government to make sure the area does not become a safe place for criminals. She is concerned that Bauchi State could see a rise in kidnappings like in the past.

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the attacks when contacted. SP Nafiu Habib, the Police Public Relations Officer, said security forces are working to rescue the kidnapped victims and catch the criminals.

“Our men are aware of the situation and are on top of the matter. Protecting lives and property is our mandate, and we will not allow the wave of insecurity to take away the peace we enjoy in Bauchi State,” Habib stated.

This report comes just a week after two children were killed, six others injured, and three residents abducted. Heavily armed bandits invaded Rafin Ciyawa village in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

SP Nafiu Habib also confirmed this attack on Wednesday. He said the police have sent the Violent Crime Reduction Unit, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, local hunters, and vigilantes to the area. They aim to rescue the hostages and track down the suspects.