INSECURITY: Kaduna residents flee to urban centres as abductions rise in hinterlands

..IGP urges citizens’ collaboration

BY IDIBIA GABRIEL & ANDREW OROLUA

Following the renewed bandits and terrorism attacks across communities in Kaduna state, man residents of the affected areas are vacating their houses to the metropolis for fear of being abducted.

The worst hit are the owners and occupiers of personal houses built by families and retirees on the outskirts, as they have been forced to vacate their structures, fearing the escalating news of kidnappings in the state in recent times.

Daily Times survey indicates that the areas mostly affected are Gonin Gora by Abuja road, Romi, Sabon Tasha GRA, Ibrahim Yakowa road (new road), Maraban Rico outskirts and environs.

Most housing agents who spoke to our correspondent alluded to the fact that their work has picked up recently with many landlords approaching them for houses in the city centres where bandits’ attacks are minimal.

According to Kasham Samuel, a house agent at Television village, Kaduna, accommodation-seekers which was at almost zero level in 2012 has bounced back fully.

“Long before now there was no scarcity of accommodation as it used to be before 2012/13 because people have built their own personal houses and there were many vacant rooms for people to freely pay and enter without passing through us as agents.

“But now many are out again looking for accommodation inside town, some are landlords themselves while some are their tenants quitting their residence from bandit-prone zones and communities around Kaduna”.

In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has stressed the need for an all-inclusive policing strategy and urged citizens to engage actively in national security and development initiatives.

He said citizens participation will foster a shift towards modern policing and promote socioeconomic and political advancement in Nigeria.

The IGP further advocates for citizen volunteerism and an individualistic approach to social and security restructuring in the country.

A statement by Force spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated that the IGP made the call at the Force Headquarters on Tuesday while reflecting on and appraising the effectiveness of the well-coordinated operations that led to the rescue of the 20 (twenty) medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State on the 15th of August 2024, and other 7 (seven) Nigerians who had been in the captivity of the heinous criminals.

According to him, the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, including the Police, other security agencies, and government entities at all levels, is key to realizing the vision of a new Nigeria characterized by enhanced national security and good governance for all.

The Inspector-General of Police also emphatically appreciates the personal role and steadfastness of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his unalloyed support to the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the rescuing of our beloved children and citizens of Nigeria.

The IGP acknowledges the NSA’s dedication to lending helping hand to security forces in fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerian citizens, as well as upholding law and order throughout the nation.

In the same vein, the Inspector-General of Police extends sincere gratitude to the officers affiliated with the office of the National Security Adviser, the military, and other security personnel, as well as the local community members who actively participated in the rescue operation, along with numerous similar efforts throughout the nation.

Their contributions are praiseworthy and play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of Nigeria and its citizens.

The Inspector General of Police reaffirms the dedication of the Police, under his leadership, to assiduously emplace a Police Force that is professionally competent, rule-of-law compliant, service-driven, and people-friendly.

He assures the public of the safe rescue of all Nigerians in captivity across the country adding that this is our pledge, and we will ensure its fulfillment.

Meanwhile, owing to increased hardships in most families due to harsh economic realities, the population of street-hawking children has sharply increased in Kaduna .

Our correspondent who monitored the situation reports that from morning till night streets, roads and motor parks are busy and packed full of under-aged children hawking one item or another.

Groundnuts, corn, eggs are amongst commodities being hawked by children even as they are exposed to the risk of being run over by vehicles.

Many respondents who spoke to our reporter revealed that two square meals in a day have become extremely difficult for many families.