Kaduna State Government has said that security agencies manning the Kaduna-Abuja road are yet to confirm the kidnapping of scores of citizens as reported by a social media enthusiast.
Senator Shehu Sani had, in a tweet, said “I have just got a call that bandits have blocked the Kaduna-Abuja road, in between Jere and Katari village in this broad daylight. Scores of people were kidnapped while many have made a fast u-turn in the face of gunshots.”
A Facebook user Dardau Danmusa also posted on his page saying “Put our friend Nura Tanimu in prayers kidnappers abducted them at Katari today (Friday).”
But the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan countered in a statement.
“The Government of Kaduna State known for publicizing security developments will certainly make public feedback received by the military and police as soon as the agencies revert.
“At around 3:30pm, the Security Operations Room, a 24-hour hub, started receiving distress calls of a blockage around Kurmin Kare area of Kaduna-Abuja Road and immediately, contact was established with the Commanding Officer of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS), a Defence Headquarters outfit, and Operation Puff Adder of the Nigeria Police for immediate counter action.
“The troops and the police operatives swiftly moved to the general area, saw motorists stranded on both lanes, and subsequently cleared the road.
“The personnel after clearing the accumulated traffic saw one Honda car with Reg. No. RBC 864BL recovered with broken rear windscreen and another vehicle found empty with some luggage. From preliminary findings, the occupant or occupants may have been unaccounted for.
“Furthermore, beside the Honda vehicle, the following five citizens hidden in the forest appeared with their driver who confirmed they were complete having escaped in the commotion:
“Rifkatu Yolanda, Rukayya Umar, Hauwa Jibrin, Juliana John, Yahaya Aliyu and Babangida Lawan (driver),” Aruwan said.
The commissioner added that “As of 9:40pm, the status of the occupant(s) of the Honda cannot be substantiated, and the veracity of the report that scores were kidnapped cannot be confirmed. The public will be briefed as soon as Government of Kaduna State receives operational feedback.”
