Dass local government area of Bauchi State has come under a fresh wave of insecurity, with one person reportedly killed and four others abducted in separate attacks carried out by suspected kidnappers within the past two weeks.
The alarm was raised on Wednesday by a former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and House of Representatives aspirant, Hon. Maryam Bagel, who described the incidents as disturbing and called for urgent intervention by security agencies.
In a post on her Facebook page, Bagel alleged that the attacks occurred in Kagadama and Bagel villages, where armed men targeted residents in separate operations.
She said four people were abducted in Kagadama village, while another resident was shot dead in Bagel village in the presence of his wife and children.
“Four people were kidnapped in Kagadama village, and one person was killed in the presence of his own family in my village of Bagel,” she wrote.
Bagel disclosed that the first victim abducted was a pharmacy owner in Kagadama, adding that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N50 million for his release.
“The first person kidnapped was a pharmacy owner operating in Kagadama. They demanded N50 million to release him. Where are they expecting a village pharmacy owner to get N50 million?” she queried.
She further alleged that less than a week later, the gunmen returned and attempted to abduct another resident, identified as Shahibi, who had reportedly been kidnapped about a year earlier.
According to her, the assailants shot him several times in the chest and stomach in the presence of his wife and children, resulting in his death.
Bagel also claimed that the attackers returned to Kagadama on Tuesday in another kidnap attempt targeting a shop owner, who escaped after the gunmen opened fire.
She said the attackers subsequently abducted three other people, including a 10-year-old boy attending the shop, a young man who had just returned from the hospital, and another resident.
The former lawmaker appealed to security agencies and the Bauchi State Government to strengthen security measures in Dass to prevent further attacks and stop criminal elements from gaining a foothold in the area.
She warned against a return to the widespread kidnapping incidents that previously affected parts of the state. Reacting to the development, the Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the attacks.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, said security operatives had intensified efforts to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend those responsible.
“Our men are aware of the situation and are on top of the matter. Protecting lives and property is our mandate, and we will not allow the wave of insecurity to take away the peace we enjoy in Bauchi State,” Habib said.
