Bandits abduct two journalists, wives, children in Kaduna

Bandits have abducted two journalists and their family members in Kaduna State.

The armed men stormed Danhonu community in Millennium city of Chikun local government area of Kaduna and raided houses of the reporters of The Nation newspaper, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, and that of Blueprint Newspaper, AbdulRaheem Aodu.

The bandits made away with them, their wives and children.

Alhaji Alabelewe is also 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 about 10:30pm on Saturday and started shooting sporadically before carrying out their action.

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 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 of the time of filing this report.

Daily Trust