A Plateau community is living in fear after terrorists threatened to strike again following the abduction and release of a resident on Monday.
The victim, who spoke to Peoples Gazette on condition of anonymity, said he was kidnapped by four armed Fulani boys around 7:30 p.m. as he was about to enter his house in Dura, an extension of Rayfield, Jos South Local Government Area.
He said he was taken to a forest in Riyom, where he was held captive until a ransom of five hundred thousand naira was paid.
He said he was punched several times on his face and trekked for hours in the bush with his captors.
He said the kidnappers vowed to return to the community and cause more havoc. He also said the police were not helpful in his rescue, as they could only make the situation worse.
Moses Yusuph and Martins Obidah, two community leaders in Dura, confirmed the incident to Peoples Gazette, but said they were not aware of the details.
They said the security situation in the area was very poor and blamed some of their leaders for being complacent.
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They said they had to rely on local hunters for their security, as the guns of the Civil Defence personnel could not match the AK-47 rifles of the kidnappers. They also said they had reminded the residents to pay their security levy, as the government seemed clueless about the insecurity in the state.
Police Inspector Banga Moses Kaza, who was contacted by the victim’s boss from Abuja, said he was sceptical about the kidnapping story, as it was not officially reported. He said he called someone in SWAT to assist, but later found out that the victim had been released.
Dura is a community that has witnessed several kidnappings in the past, especially in the new layout, where the late General Idris Alkali was reportedly ambushed and his car was found in a pond in 2018.
With heightened insecurity in various parts of Jos and its environs, the victim advised people not to stay out late and to be security-conscious.
“These boys have turned this kidnapping thing into a hustle. Everyone should be vigilant about their security and avoid late nights,” he said.
(PeoplesGazette)