Military forces bandits to abandon 31 kidnap victims In Kaduna
The Chairman of Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Dr Manzo Daniel, has commended the military and other security agencies for their swift response in containing a recent bandit attack on Ariko community Kachia LGA .
Daniel gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen, Wednesday, while reacting to the incident in Ariko district, where suspected bandits launched an attack on residents on Easter Sunday.
He said the timely intervention of troops following a distress call led to swift response, forcing the attackers to abandon many of the kidnapped victims.
In all, some 31 victims were rescued during the military intervention.
According to him, security forces, in collaboration with other agencies and local vigilante groups, have since intensified efforts to restore law and order in the area.
The chairman disclosed that he personally led rapid response teams to comb over 20 communities last week to ensure the safety of residents.
Daniel noted that Ariko community had long faced security challenges due to its remote location, which makes it vulnerable to attacks.
He described as unacceptable the actions of some leaders who, according to him, were escalating emotions and sentiments over the incident.
“In the last one year, over 20 security personnel have lost their lives due to security challenges in this area,” he said.
Also speaking, the Agwom Kachia, Mr Zamani Dogonyaro, lauded the military for its prompt intervention.
Dogonyaro revealed that troops had to trek between two and three kilometres to access the community due to poor road infrastructure.
“I have never seen an incident where the military responded so quickly. I commend them for their effort,” he said.
He added that top security officials, including the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, the Commissioner of Police, Commissioner for Internal Security, and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), had visited the area multiple times following the attack.
The traditional ruler assured of the continued support and cooperation of the chiefdom to security agencies to prevent a recurrence.
In his remarks, the youth leader of Ariko community, Mr Sunday Gajere, said troops arrived within 25 minutes of the attack and engaged the bandits.
He said the security operatives also assisted in recovering five bodies of victims killed during the incident.
He added that troops had since increased patrols and maintained close contact with residents to restore normalcy in the area and its environs.
