Bandits have Informants in Kidnapped District Head’s Community, Says Niger Gov

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that bandits have informants in Yakila community in Rafi Local Government Area of the state, where the District Head, Alhaji Abdulhamid, along with three of his daughters, were kidnapped three weeks ago.

Making this assertion during a sympathy visit to the deserted community Monday, the governor stated that the
government has intelligence report that the bandits have informants among the people, adding that the report was reinforced by the fact that less than 24 hours after the kidnapped district head held a meeting designed to set up a local security outfit for the community, the bandits struck.

Bello told the people that they should join hands with the government to secure their community, insisting that security is everybody’s business.

The governor assured the people that government is on top of the situation, adding that very soon, the bandits will be apprehended and brought to justice.

Meanwhile, during Governor Bello’s visit to the area, he met an almost lifeless community as virtually all the shops were closed, business centres were not opened and most traders who used to display their wares along the road were completely absent.

Also, the residents of the community locked themselves in their houses, opting to take a look at the governor from the windows.

It was learnt that the bandits are yet to make contact with either the family of the kidnapped district head or the leadership of the community.

One of the community leaders who declined to give his name said: “The last time they made contact with us was two weeks ago but they did not ask for anything,” adding that there is already apprehension in the community about the safety of the district head.

THISDAY however learnt from some of the villagers that the bandits have demanded a ransom of N4 million.