Four kidnapped, one killed in fresh attacks in Bauchi community

A former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and former House of Representatives aspirant, Maryam Bagel, has raised concerns over what she described as a renewed wave of kidnappings in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State, alleging that four people were abducted and one person was killed in separate attacks within the past two weeks.

Bagel made the claims in a Facebook post on Wednesday, expressing alarm over the worsening security situation in the Kagadama and Bagel communities.

According to her, the first incident involved the abduction of a chemist shop owner in Kagadama village by suspected kidnappers. She alleged that the abductors demanded a ransom of N50 million for his release.

Describing the demand as excessive, Bagel questioned how a village chemist could possibly afford such an amount.

She further alleged that less than a week later, the gunmen returned and attempted to kidnap another resident, identified as Shahibi, who had reportedly been abducted about a year earlier.

Bagel said Shahibi resisted the abduction, declaring that he would rather die than endure another kidnapping ordeal. She alleged that the attackers then opened fire, shooting him several times in the chest and stomach in the presence of his wife and children. He reportedly died from the gunshot wounds.

She also claimed that the assailants returned to Kagadama on Tuesday in another attempted kidnapping. While the intended target, a shop owner, reportedly escaped after the gunmen fired several shots, the attackers allegedly abducted three other residents.

The victims were said to include a 10-year-old boy who was at the shop, a young man who had reportedly just returned from the hospital, and another resident.

Bagel called on security agencies and the Bauchi State Government to take urgent and decisive action to prevent kidnapping from resurfacing in Dass Local Government Area.

“We call on the security agencies and the relevant authorities to do everything within their powers to ensure that Dass Local Government does not fall into the hands of criminals again,” she wrote.

She added, “May our dear state never experience again the wave of kidnappings that once plagued it.”

Reacting to the allegations, the spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed that security operatives had launched an operation to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend those responsible.

“Our men are aware of the situation and are on top of it. Protecting lives and property is our constitutional responsibility, and we will not allow criminal elements to disrupt the peace Bauchi State is known for,” he said.

Abubakar disclosed that the command had deployed personnel from the Violent Crime Reduction Unit (VCRU) and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, alongside local hunters and vigilante groups, to the affected communities.

According to him, the combined security team is conducting search-and-rescue operations aimed at securing the victims’ release and bringing the suspects to justice.