Over 30 persons were kidnapped on Kaduna-Abuja road -Victims,family berate police over denial

Following the release of three out over 20 persons kidnapped on Kaduna-Abuja highway, the victims and their families have berated the Kaduna State Police Command for denying that they were kidnapped.

Comrade Danjuma Sarki who spoke on behalf of the victims and their families at a press conference in Kaduna on Saturday described as shameful, the position of the Kaduna Police Command over numbers of Kidnapped victims on Kaduna/Abuja road recently.

Police had on Friday 9th June 2017, in a statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Ahmad Abdulrahaman debunked the report over the kidnap of over 20 people traveling along Abuja/Kaduna road.

“A story is been circulated on the internet and some print media about the purported kidnapping of 20 persons at Akilibu village along Abuja – Kaduna Express way. Although, the command has recorded an incident where five (5) persons driving along Kaduna-Abuja express way in a Toyota camry were attacked, three people (3) were robbed and the two (2) others kidnapped to unknown destination.
“When the report reached us, the Command’s technical and human resources where deployed to ensure the rescue of the two (2) victims and the arrest of the culprits,” the Police stated.

But according to Danjuma, he and some of his concerned friends had on Thursday 8th, reported the matter to the police command after the news broke out and the police promised to investigate and ensure the release of the captives.
He said,

 “to our greatest shock, instead of doing the needful, the Kaduna state Police Command decided to debunk it through a press statement, describing it as false, claiming that there was no truth in the story, that it was misleading.
“Though, we suspected this ab initio, due to the manner they treated our report by claiming not to have received any complaint or report from any quarters or their men covering those areas.  

“However, we told them we were there to formally report the matter. That was when the same DCP Abdulrahaman later owned up to us that the the Divisional Police Officer of Kateri Division informed them after receiving a call during a meeting they held on kidnapping on the on the same axis on Wednesday 7th June, 2017 at the Force Headquarters.” 

 Danjuma, added that from that moment they began to smell a rat, which resulted into subsequent Shameful denial by the Police.

“These action gave birth to our total loss of confidence on the police to investigate the matter, which led to our refusal to contact them when we established contact with the kidnappers. 

“We wish to categorically and unequivocally reaffirm that the incident is true with physical proof. Despite several payment of ransom and releases of some victims as at yesterday night, there are still more than 30 people in their captivity.
“We want to reiterate here that no one is safe on Kaduna-Abuja express way due to the nonchalant attitude and lack of commitment from our security agencies and the government.”

The  Nation