Bandits Storm Kaduna Community, Kidnap Journalists, Wives, Children
- They raided the homes of The Nation newspaper reporter, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, and Blueprint Newspaper reporter, AbdulRaheem Aodu
Bandits have abducted two journalists and their families in Kaduna State.
The armed men invaded the Danhonu community in the Millennium City area of Chikun Local Government Area, raiding the homes of The Nation newspaper reporter, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, and Blueprint Newspaper reporter, AbdulRaheem Aodu, along with their wives and children.
Alhaji Alabelewe, who is also the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, was among those taken.
A family member, Taofeeq Olayemi, confirmed the incident, stating that the bandits arrived around 10:30 PM on Saturday, shooting sporadically before abducting their victims. They kidnapped Alhaji Alabelewe, his wife, and two of his children, while Alhaji Aodu and his wife were also taken, leaving behind their sick daughter.
“Initially, they picked Alhaji Abdulgafar, his wife and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return back with one of the children, leaving with Abdulgafar, his wife and two children.”
“They shattered their doors, windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”
Olayemi, a family member of Mr. Aodu, who lives close to the victims’ houses said,” They came around 10:30pm on Saturday and started shooting sporadically. They first burst Aodu’s door open and picked him and his wife and left their sick daughter behind.
“Then, they entered Abdulgafar’s house through the fence and jumped into his house. They went straight into his bedroom and picked him, his wife and two of their kids. They left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan could not be reached for reaction as his phone was not connecting as at the time of filing this report.
