Kidnappings: Kaduna mulls relocating communities ‘harbouring informants’

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said the state government may relocate or clear three communities along Kaduna Abuja highway due to activities of informants in the areas.

The Communities identified are Rijana, Kateri and Akilibu villages all located along the major highway linking the state and federal capital territory.

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According to the governor, most of the high profile kidnappings and abductions happen near these three dangerous spots.

He said there were concerns of informants residing in those communities were working for bandits.

El-Rufai, who made the statement during the presentation of first quarter security report for 2022 by the State Commissioner Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the concerns regarding these communities will be discussed with security agencies and members of his cabinet.

“We will either relocate or clear these three settlements along that road. We will discuss this in our cabinet meeting by looking at all the options including clearing these 3  settlements. This is because there are informants  playing vital role in most of the crimes committed along that road,” he said.

El-Rufai also threatened to demolish any patent stores selling illicit drugs in the state, saying bandits and terrorists use these illicit drugs before attacking innocent citizens.
The governor said the deteriorating security situation in the North West is far worse than what the country experienced in North East because  members of ISWAP and Boko Haram elements have moved to part of the state.

The Governor also said his administration is looking at the possibility of recruiting additional 1000 vigilantes too add to the already recruited 1000 vigilantes that were trained at the police command last year.

In his remarks, Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said 360 people were killed from January – March 2022 across the state. According to him, 305 were males, 45 females and 11 minors.

He said 1,389 residents were kidnapped, 350 males,420 females and 79 minors while 3251 cattle were rustled within the period under review. 41 bandits were killed by security agencies in different operations carried out  while over 60 bandits were also neutralized through air strikes.