Residents of Kwapre and Dabna villages at Garaha Ward in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State have fled their homes over persistent attacks by bandits.
Daily Trust reports that Kwapre and Dabna villages have been turned into ghost villages as residents fled for safety to neighbouring villages.
Kwapre, Dabna, Lar, Zah and other adjoining villages are in Garaha Ward, where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and the slain Nigerian Army Brigadier General, Dzarma Zurkusu hailed from.
A community leader in Garaha, Honourable Hyella, said people have fled Kwapre to avoid being trapped and kidnapped by bandits and Boko Haram.
“There are only seven persons left in Kwapre now; the rest have relocated to either Hong or Pella.
“People have justifiable reasons to run for their lives because 52 persons were abducted in April this year and only eight persons have returned home since then. Now that there’s a buildup of a heavy presence of suspected bandits in the area again, the people have to run for their lives.
“People have to run because kidnappings happen on a daily basis. The bandits have begun to tax villagers. So far, they have taxed Dabna, Sushiu, Lar and many villages within the Duguba district to pay safety levies.”
A source, who sought anonymity said, “The people in Dabna have moved to Gombi, a nearby town and Hong. Few families are still there, maybe about ten households or so,” he stated.
The police spokesman in Adamawa State, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, has confirmed the tension and scare.
“Yes, there is kidnap scare around those villages. Of course, it is normal for the people to be scared. But the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, has directed the deployment of troops to safeguard the areas,” he stated.
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