No fewer than 9 people were killed and 35 people abducted as bandits carried out deadly attacks in Kwasam community, Kauru LGA, and Gwada community in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.
Among those abducted are a retired Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), his brother, and the brother’s wife. The bandits also injured nine people during the attacks in the two local government areas.
In Kauru LGA, six persons were killed, five were abducted, and two were injured. In Igabi LGA, three persons were killed, seven were injured, and 30 others were kidnapped.
The incident occurred around 10 pm when the bandits invaded the communities, targeting the residence of the retired CBN staff.
They abducted the retired director, his brother, and the brother’s wife. In an attempt to rescue the victims, residents rushed out, but the bandits fired at them, resulting in six deaths and two injuries.
The victims killed were identified as Danmasani Gwaska, Mrs. Giwa John, Kapishi Barmu, Ganya Ubangida, Shigama Salisu, and Gani Magawata.
The kidnapped individuals include Mr. Zakariya Markus (retired CBN director), Mr. Monday Markus (younger brother to the retired CBN staff), Mrs. Monday Markus (wife of Monday), Mr. Alhamdu Makeri’s son, and Baban Fati of Kauru.
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani has called for aggressive military operations against bandits in the state following the attacks.
The governor sent condolences to the families of the victims and assured them of ongoing efforts to address the security situation.
The security forces say they are conducting operations in the affected locations.
“The Governor of Kaduna State is not relenting in his efforts, and he is also working towards sustained aggressive military operations in the frontline locations and emerging fronts like Kauru LGA,” Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said during a visit to the affected areas.
In a related development, the Ogun Police Command has arrested a seven-man gang suspected to be specialised in trading human parts and for money rituals.
The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, disclosed that a human heart and two kegs filled with human body parts were parts of exhibits recovered from the suspects.
The men arrested on Thursday were identified by the police as Moses Abidemi, Oluwo Monday, Prophet Peter Akiwunmi Ifatosin, Jamiu Yusuf, Sheriff Agbai, and Osojieahen Alioneitoura.
Alamutu explained that the Divisional Police Office in Onipanu, received a report of a missing lady, Ms Sulaiimon Adijat, on January 9 who was invited out on a date by one Adebayo Azeez.
“Despite frantic efforts to locate her whereabouts, the mobile phone has been switched off since the day she was reported missing. Consequently, the anti-kidnapping unit of the command was drafted to unravel the mystery behind her disappearance, and a technical-based investigation was embarked on,” the CP said.
According to him, the investigation revealed that the suspects were involved in a money ritual known as ‘Oshole’ to produce N200m within seven days.
“Oluwo Monday charged the duo of Agbai and Alioneitouria N800,000 to prepare the materials for the ritual money. Oluwo Monday, in furtherance of his criminal intention, later contacted one Peter, who was not new in the trade of human parts, to source for a lady between the ages of 18 and 20 years.”
The CP said Peter was to deliver the lady’s mutilated body parts, specifically the head, two breasts, vagina, and two wrists that would be used for the alleged ritual.
“However, on January 10, Sheriff and Osojieahen collected the ritual money from Oluwo and travelled back to their location in Edo State. Trouble started when Osojieahen used the ritual element as directed by Oluwo, and complained bitterly that it failed to yield the expected sum of N200m in seven days.
“A search was conducted in the shrine of Moses on February 3 and 10, where female handbags and two cement sacks containing human bones were recovered,” Alamutu added.
The CP noted that all the suspects confessed to the alleged crime and their roles, adding that an investigation was ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.
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