Kaduna, Niger communities seek Tinubu’s help to rescue abducted district heads
Communities in Kaduna and Niger states have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the kidnapping of two District Heads, Sani Shekarau and Abdullahi Usman, who have been held captive by a terrorist group for four months.
They said despite the payment of over N100m as ransom to the kidnappers led by Kachalla Halilu and Kachalla Gudale, the terror group were “still demanding more money and motorcycles.
According to them, the district Heads are being held in the same camp and are reportedly in poor health due to torture.
The communities, through the Birnin-Gwari-Niger Inter-boundary Community Union for Peace and Development, urged Tinubu to mobilise security forces to rescue the district heads and bring an end to the reign of terror.
“We implore you to use your authority to rescue our district heads and restore hope to our communities,” the chairman of the union, Ishaq Kasai, said in a letter to Tinubu.
A copy of the letter was sent to Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, Niger State Governor, Muhammad Bago, Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Lawal Usman, and House of Representative member representing Birnin-Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency, Bashir Usman.
In the letter obtained by PUNCH online, on Thursday, the communities said the people were “confident that your (President Tinubu) intervention will bring relief to our suffering communities and restore confidence in your leadership.”
They added that the kidnapping has caused immense pain and suffering for the families of the District Heads, who were still waiting for their loved ones to be returned.
It read in part, “It is with utmost distress and anguish that we recount the harrowing tale of our esteemed traditional ruler, Alhaji Sani Shekarau, District Head of Kakangi of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State who has been held captive by armed bandits for a staggering four months now.
“Despite the painful and crushing ransom of about N100 million paid in ransom to the bandits, they remain trapped in the clutches of these ruthless perpetrators, with no end in sight to their ordeal.
“As we plead for help, we are reminded that our leaders have a sacred responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all citizens. It is imperative that they take immediate action to rescue our District Heads and others like them who are being held captive by these bandits.
“We urge President Bola Tinubu, Dakaren Birnin-Gwari through the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to intervene and bring an end to this reign of terror.
“We implore you to mobilise additional security forces to Kaduna/Niger/Zamfara inter-boundary axis connecting the notorious forests where these bandits operate freely with impunity.
“The kidnappers have collected cumulatively over N100million as ransom from their families and still hold them hostage.
“The hoodlums are still demanding additional tens of millions and about 15 Honda motorcycles worth over N30 million.”
