Banditry: Unabated abduction in my constituency unbearable - Rep Barde

A member in the nations' House of Representatives, Yakubu Umar Barde has expressed great concern over what he described as unabated abduction in his constituency saying it has become unbearable.

Barde, representing Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency of Kaduna State, told Daily Times on Friday in Abuja that the abduction of 16 residents of Ungwan Gimbiya area of Kaduna State by a group of Kidnappers in the early hours of Thursday, July 8, 2021 has become more worrisome, condemning in strong terms incessant cases of abduction and killing of innocent citizens within his Constituency over the past six months.

The Representative also said that the present administration should not shy away from seeking foreign assistance to combat insecurity, because it is not peculiar to Nigeria noting that; "our body language has always been non-challant."

According to the lawmaker, some aggrieved residents of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna State including youths, staged a peaceful protest, blocking the refinery road at sabon tasha to draw attention of Federal and State Governments to the plight of the unarmed and defenceless residents of the areas who are yearning for adequate protection.

He however, didn't support the aspect of road block by the youths saying that the constitional  right of free movement of other citizens is been infringed on.

He said: “I received the news about the abduction of 16 people within my Constituency at the early hours of Thursday with heavy heart.

“These ugly incidents, according to reports made available to me, that four people were abducted at Ungwan Fada Kujama and unfortunately, one of them was killed by the armed bandits.

“I was also confronted with a similar situation where 12 people were kidnapped in Ungwan Gimbiya and Jujji communities within my Constituency of that fateful day, to show you the rising spate of insecurity ravaging Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency of Kaduna State, which I represent in the House of Representatives.

“Recall that I addressed the Media on the state of insecurity across my Constituency few days ago, where I condemned attack on Bethel Baptist High School Damshi, Chikun Local Government Area, where they abducted over 140 students from their hostel out of which 28 escaped from their abductors and to the glory of God, have reunited with their families. Unfortunately, 2 Military personnel lost their lives.

“Few days after the unfortunate incident, while we are yet to recover, a group which abducted the 18 people in Kakau area of Kaduna State, 10 days ago demanded for  N200 million from the community.

“These are few of the heinous incidents that one recall with nostalgia, and the need for Government to go back to the drawing board."    

He further noted that all hands should be on deck to assist the government, find a lasting solution to this menace.

"While we need to help, Government should listen and be willing to implement ideas that will proffer solution by well meaning citizens. 

“As predicted by development partners, failure to end the activities of bandits, kidnappers and all sorts of criminal activities in the country may derail our progress, democratically as a nation," he stated.