Bandits kidnap journalists, families in Kaduna

On Saturday night, bandits invaded the Dahjonu community in Millennium City, located in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. They abducted two journalists, Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint newspaper, along with their wives and children.

Abdulgafar Alabelewe also serves as the chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council.

Taofeeq Olayemi, a family member of one of the victims, confirmed the incident. He reported that the bandits arrived around 10:30 PM, shooting indiscriminately before executing the abductions. According to Olayemi, the bandits kidnapped Alabelewe, his wife, and two of his children. They also kidnapped Aodu and his wife, who was ill, leaving behind their sick daughter.

Olayemi detailed the events, stating, “Initially, they took Abdulgafar, his wife, three of his children, and a girl staying with them. They later allowed the girl to return with one of the children, leaving with Abdulgafar, his wife, and two children. They shattered the doors and windows and removed the burglary bars after scaling the fence.”

Olayemi, a neighbor to the victims, added, “The bandits arrived around 10:30 PM on Saturday, shooting indiscriminately. They forced open Aodu’s door, kidnapped him and his wife, and left their sick daughter behind. They then entered Abdulgafar’s house by jumping over the fence, went straight to his bedroom, and abducted him, his wife, and two of their children. They left immediately, and vigilantes arrived shortly after, shooting into the air.”

As of the time of this report, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for comments as his telephone line was not connecting.