*countless motorists stranded
*Govt clears highway, warns against blockade
By; AMOS TAUNA & FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Following alleged cases of invasion by armed bandits, leading to the abduction of some residents of Gonin Gora in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, members of the community occupied and blocked the Abuja-Kaduna highway yesterday.
New Nigerian reports that the citizens trooped out in large numbers yesterday, to protest the incessant bandit attacks on the road and their communities, leading to killings and abduction of many people.
The protest yesterday was said to have been due to an invasion that occurred on Wednesday night, February 28, 2024, where numerous community members were kidnapped, with several others injured.
Two people, including a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, were reportedly killed in the attack by the bandits.
The residents were enraged by the development and took to the streets yesterday morning, thereby, obstructing the plying of vehicles along the ever busy Abuja-Kaduna highway.
As a result, the road experienced significant congestion, leaving countless motorists stranded.
The recent assault on the Gonin Gora community, according to a source, followed a week’s elimination of a notorious bandit leader, Boderi Isyaku, and several of his followers by the military in the Chikun Local Government Area.
The bandits reportedly set fire to a military armoured vehicle while the soldiers were trying to repel them.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Kaduna State Security Council has warned against blockage of public roads and harassment of innocent citizens by persons conducting protests.
A statement from Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan on Thursday February 29, 2024, said the members of the Kaduna State Security Council while interacting with community leaders, expressed dissatisfaction with the menace of blocking roads, a situation which infringes on the rights of citizens and travelers using these roads and other public utilities.
This followed the blockage of the Gonin Gora axis of the Kaduna-Abuja Road by some protesters on Thursday morning, in response to reports of a bandit attack in Unguwan Auta of Gonin Gora general area, Chikun LGA, thus denying commuters access through the route.
The members of the Security Council, comprising the Commissioner of Police, Audu Ali, Director of Department of State Services, Abdul Adamu Eneche, Garrison Commander, One Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Muhammad Kana, and the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, in the company of security forces, dismantled the road blocks erected and subsequently opened up the road for use by motorists.
As of the time of this security update, citizens and motorists were plying the Gonin Gora axis of Kaduna-Abuja Road without obstruction.
