Tension gripped residents of Gonin-Gora in Kaduna State as they staged a protest on Thursday, barricading the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in the wake of yet another abduction incident in the troubled Chikun Local Government Area.
Angered by the relentless attacks by bandits in the area, residents flooded onto the highway, demanding swift government action to address the security challenges plaguing their community.
Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing events of Wednesday night when armed kidnappers stormed the community, terrorizing residents and abducting several individuals.
The brazen assault, lasting from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am, spurred the community to take to the streets in protest against the audacity of the assailants.
“We were awakened by gunshots as the bandits entered the community, firing indiscriminately and snatching away our neighbors. They operated for hours without any security presence,” shared a resident who witnessed the ordeal.
READ ALSO: NDIC Repays Depositors of 179 Closed Microfinance and Mortgage Banks
The blockade of the highway caused chaos as motorists were stranded, prompting the intervention of security forces to restore order and disperse the protesters.
While some residents fled in fear of further attacks, the state government cautioned against vigilantism, urging residents not to take the law into their own hands.
The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, condemned the roadblocks and affirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace and security in the area.
READ ALSO: Poverty, unemployment reasons for banditry, kidnapping, other crimes: Gov. Sani
As tensions ease and traffic resumes on the Kaduna-Abuja Road, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by banditry in the region.