The women’s wing of the Southern Kaduna People Union (SOKAPU) has called on Governor Uba Sani to take urgent measures to rescue numerous individuals who are currently being held by abductors in various parts of the state.

Mrs. Jemutu Katarma, the National Women Coordinator of SOKAPU, issued a statement in Kaduna emphasizing the need for Governor Uba Sani to leverage his positive working relationship with Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other security chiefs to secure the safe return of the captives to their families.

Mrs. Katarma highlighted the prevailing violence and crimes perpetrated by armed groups, particularly bandits and armed herdsmen, across nine out of the twelve local government areas in Southern Kaduna. She lamented the loss of thousands of lives, the destruction of homes, and the kidnapping of hundreds of individuals. The statement also mentioned that the previous state government regularly reported these atrocities to the press.

The statement recounted a specific incident on October 2, 2023, in Kachuwe near Sarkin Pawa, Niger State, where 13 adult males and a young girl were killed by bandits. The village was completely burned down, and 14 youths, mostly children aged between three and ten, were abducted. Additionally, on October 7, 2023, in Chikuri village, Chikun LGA, bandits invaded Maikudi farms and kidnapped 14 women and a boy.

According to the statement, a total of 27 women and girls, along with four boys who are residents of Kaduna State from Chikun LGA, are currently in the custody of kidnappers, with one confirmed fatality.

It further revealed that other individuals have been kidnapped in the hands of the bandits for several months now, resulting into the complete destruction of several villages and moreso the displacement of numerous people seeking safety elsewhere.The women’s wing of the Southern Kaduna People Union has therefore called on Governor Uba Sani to address the issue.