From John Adams, Minna
No fewer than 10 people have been kidnapped in Gurara, Lapai, Suleja and Tafa Local Government areas of Niger State in the last two weeks.
According to the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Barrister David Umaru, kidnappers are on rampage in parts of the state, making residents to live in fear.
Said he: “These people are currently living in fear. Some of them have even relocated from the community because their lives are under threat. The villagers are being kidnapped and their relations made to pay huge sums of money for their release.
“In the last two weeks, I have received reports of 10 cases of kidnap from these local governments, especially those in my constituency and this has brought untold hardship to the people.
“In fact the communities are under siege right now because the people now figuratively sleep with their eyes open. They don’t know who will be the next victim.”
He called on the state government and security agents to, as a matter of urgency, do something in order to check the activities of the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has said that it has deployed 800 special forces to the affected areas.
The Police Public Relation Office (PPRO), DSP, Bala Elkana, who confirmed the activities of the kidnappers, said the special forces were drawn from Intelligence unit, Police Mobile Force, special anti-robbery and anti-kidnapping squad.
According him, “the operation headquarters of the command has temporarily relocated to Lambata, Gurara, LGA. The details of the operation will be made known in due course.
“The command enjoined members of the public to remain calm and provide useful information to the police on the activities of criminal elements.
“The command has introduced ‘Information Reward System’ that will provide some incentives (cash rewards) to any person who provides useful information that leads to the arrest of notorious criminals and recovery of firearms”.