By Gabriel Atumeyi
Many travellers were on Saturday, June 19, 2021, trapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway as angry residents blocked the road over attacks, especially the killing of a 13-year-old girl by bandits, 365Daily has learnt.
It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred at Anguwar Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Residents said bandits stormed the house of the village head and abducted in his family as well as other persons in the community.
According to a resident of the area, they were not safe at home and on their farms.
“We cannot go to our farms and yet they will follow us to our homes to abduct us for ransom. They killed a 13-year-old girl, a security man in the village as well as abducted some other residents,” he said.
He explained that the residents only want security or to be allowed to protect themselves against the bandits.
A witness also disclosed that the protesters refused to listen to the plea of security personnel who approached them.
The witness, who did not want to be named, said the protesters have been out since 7:30am.
“The villagers are very angry. They blocked the road and insisted that no one will pass through. When security personnel came, the men withdrew and left their women on the road.”
“Some of the women are half-naked. The soldiers were just begging them to leave the road but the men cheered them on from the roadside.”
According to the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jalige Mohammed, the State commissioner of police, Umar Muri, has directed the Area Commander to visit the scene of the protest and ensure orderliness.
He said the police are trying to ensure that the road is open to allow road users access as they met with the community leaders and the protesting youths to discuss the problem.
“There is an incident along the highway but we are trying to control the situation,” he said.
The latest protest is coming barely a month after angry youth barricaded the same Kaduna-Abuja highway at Garaku, Tafa, to protest the incessant kidnappings by bandits on the highway.
The youth set tyres on fire on the busy road, insisting that government curbs the kidnappings being witnessed by communities along the highway.