HUNDREDS of locals, including half-naked women on Saturday, blocked the Kaduna-Abuja dual carriageway in in protest of an alleged killing of a 13-year-old by bandits.
The protests necessitated the Kaduna Police to deploy its operatives to restore orderliness to the area and allow easy access to the road.
Recently, residents of Sabo Gaya had cried out over the massive exodus from the area due to incessant attacks and abductions by the bandits.
Also, they lamented insecurity in the axis alleging that bandits had gone from house to house and abducted a some people.
The statement said,
” The bandits wanted to abduct the newly wed daughter but the women resisted ,insisting she was her only child and will not bear the brunt of losing her. So the bandits went with both mother and her daughter, ‘ he said.
On Saturday , travellers were forced to cut their journey on the Abuja-Kaduna highway as protesting locals blocked the road.
According to a source ,” the protesters are not happy over the killing of a 13-year-old girl by bandits. at Anguwan Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area.
“The bandits stormed the house of the village head and abducted his family as well as other persons in the area. The bandits have stopped us from going to our farms and now they are coming to our houses to kidnap us.”
“They killed a 13-year-old girl, a guard man in the village and kidnapped our people. The Mai Anguwa family ,too,” he said.
He explained that the residents only wanted security or to be allowed to protect themselves against the bandits.
He said that the protesters were so angry and had refused to listen to any plea to free the road.
It was gathered that on the arrival of the police and soldiers, the men left the scene, leaving their womenfolk who continued the protest ,some half naked.
While the security agents were pleading with the women to allow a free flow of traffic ,the men were heard encouraging the women ,some meters away.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said the Area Commander has been directed to restore law and order in the area.
“We are trying to ensure that the road is open to allow road users access. We are meeting the community leaders and the protesting youths to discuss the problem. There is an incident along the highway but we are trying to control the situation,” he said.
