Gunmen Abduct Police Inspector, 23 Others In Kaduna

Suspected gunmen have abducted no fewer than twenty-four persons, including a Police Inspector at different locations in Kaduna State.

The incident which occurred on Wednesday night had nine persons, including one Police Inspector Gloria Sebastine, Alhaji Usman and seven members of his family kidnapped at Ungwan Ma’aji, New Millennium City, Kaduna.

Also, fifteen persons were reported to have been kidnapped in multiple bandits attack along Kaduna/Birnin Gwari road on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Information gathered revealed that the bandits on Birnin Gwari road attacked members of a family conveying corpse of their father, who died at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria to Birnin Gwari,  killed the driver and kidnapped all occupants on the vehicle.

Before Wednesday attacked at Ungwan Ma’aji, Millennium City, Kaduna on Wednesday night, residents said that similar incident took place on Friday proceeding the attack.

Among those kidnapped was Kaduna Polytechnic lecturer identified as Tijjani and two other persons at Police SP Maryam’s residence.

According to the residents, the kidnappers had contacted the family of the Polytechnic lecturer and demanded Ten Million Naira ransom.

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Narrating the Wednesday night incident, an eye witness who escaped being kidnapped and identified herself as Ayuba Chiwar, said the gunmen, who were about 20, stormed their house around 10:24pm and whisked away her elder sister, Inspector Gloria Sebastine.

She said: “I was was in the sitting room chatting around 10:24pm. Suddenly, I heard a hard knock on our gate. I first kept quiet, then heard another round of continuous knock, very loud. Then, I asked, who is there, nobody answered, then I peeped from the window, then I saw somebody on our fence before I could bring torchlight, he had jumped into the compound and opened gate for others.”

“Then, I started shouting thief, thief but I didn’t realise they were many until I peeped again, then I saw about ten of them inside the compound. Others were outside watching the community. By my estimation, they should be up to twenty.

“Before I could say anything they were already attempting to break into the house. When I discovered they were almost succeeding, I just told my sister to go and hide inside the room, then I climbed into the ceiling.

“When they got access into the house, they started shouting, where is the boy? They were slapping my sister to produce me but she told them she didn’t know where I escaped to. So, they went away with her.”

“When they were about leaving, one of them, insisted on looking for me but their superior told him to forget about me. They went to another house where they kidnapped Alhaji Usman and his family.”

Another resident who pleaded anonymity, said that the kidnappers on Thursday contacted the husband of Inspector Gloria Sebastine and demanded One Hundred Million Naira ransom.

The source also confirmed that the Garrison Commander of 1st Division Nigerian Army, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State Mr Samuel Aruwan and representative of the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri on Thursday afternoon visited the scenes of the incidents.

On contact with Kaduna State’s Police Public Relations Officer to confirm the incidents , ASP Mohammed Jalige told newsmen that he was on assignment outside the office and would call back later