JUST-IN: Bandits Kidnap 2 Journalists, Wives, Children In Kaduna

Bandits in their large numbers, late Saturday night, stormed Danhonu community in the Millennium City of Chikun local government area of Kaduna State and abducted two journalists reporting for The Nation and Blueprint newspapers in the State.

The reporters – Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Aodu, respectively, were kidnapped alongside their wives and children.

Our correspondent reports that Alhaji Alabelewe is the current chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council.

A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits stormed the community at about 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically before carrying out kidnap.

He said they kidnapped Alhaji Alabelewe, his wife and two of his children, while Alhaji Aodu and his wife were kidnapped, 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,” he narrated.

Olayemi, who is a family member of Mr Aodu and lives close to the victims’ houses, further said: “they came around 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically. They first forced 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 and left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for reaction as his phone was not connecting as at the time of filing this report.