Bandits in large numbers stormed Danhonu community in the Millennium City of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Saturday night, abducting reporters from The Nation and Blueprint Newspapers, along with their wives and children.
Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, a reporter for The Nation and the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna State Council, was taken along with his wife and two children. AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspaper was also abducted with his wife, leaving behind their sick daughter.
A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, confirmed the incident, stating that the bandits arrived at around 10:30 p.m. and began shooting sporadically before executing the kidnappings.
“They kidnapped Alhaji Alabelewe, his wife, and two of his children. They also kidnapped Alhaji Aodu and his wife, leaving behind their sick daughter,” Olayemi reported.
“Initially, they picked Alhaji AbdulGafar, his wife, three of his children, and a girl staying with them. Later, they asked the girl and one of the children to return, leaving with AbdulGafar, his wife, and two children. They shattered their doors and windows and removed the burglary proof after scaling the fence.”
Olayemi, a family member of Mr. Aodu who lives close to the victims’ houses, detailed the terrifying ordeal: “They came around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically. They first burst open Aodu’s door, took him and his wife, and left their sick daughter behind.
“Then, they entered AbdulGafar’s house by jumping over the fence, went straight into his bedroom, and took him, his wife, and two of their children. They left immediately after, and then the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Mansir Hassan could not be reached for a reaction as his phone was not connecting at the time of filing this report.
