Residents of Jajuwal village in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State have repelled an attack by armed bandits.
It was gathered that the bandits invaded the community late Tuesday, October 31, 2023, and kidnapped some villagers.
However, the villagers with the assistance of armed local vigilante members and hunters, repelled the attackers, rescued some of the kidnapped victims and in the process, killed one of the gunmen while others fled into the bush with gun wounds.
A resident of the village told the Nigerian Tribune that the suspected kidnappers stormed the village, shooting sporadically in order to scare them away to be able to carry out their criminal activity.
The resident further said that the villagers, having got forehand information, prepared themselves, laid ambush for the gunmen with the assistance of local vigilante members who opened fire on the attackers.
According to him, the residents in collaboration with the local vigilante members and hunters were able to repel the attackers who ran back into the forest having been subdued by the people who succeeded in killing one of the kidnappers and rescued some of the kidnapped victims.
He said that a few persons were kidnapped during the attack though the main target was not even in the village when they attacked, adding that the people are now ready to protect themselves from further attack since the security agencies have failed them in the past.
An indigene of Toro LGA who is a member of Toro LGA Concerned Citizens confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
“We are quite aware. Let’s awake, be aware and attack them in order to protect our lives and properties,” he said.
“We are sympathizing with the residents of Toro LGA over the unfortunate incident that is trying to overwhelm them because of the activities of bandits and kidnappers who are always on the prowl kidnapping people for ransom at will.”
“It is the responsibility of the government to protect the people and their properties as it is enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. We are aware of the instability in the minds of the people due to the failure of government and security agencies to come to their aid.”
“Even, we, leadership of Toro LGA Concerned Citizens, are not exempted from the blame from the stress people of the area are currently going through,” he added.
He however assured that the group has now seen the reason to stand up to fight the activities of kidnappers and bandits in the area challenging all the elected and appointed officials from the area to come up with a way out of the situation or be ready to be booted out their respective offices having failed the people.
He also stressed that the communities too must rise up to the situation by organising themselves into groups that will protect their lives and property amongst other things.
“Allah does not sleep and He will continue to protect them from the night marauders saying, “We have taken our problem to Allah to fight for all those oppressed.
“Now, we have waken up and we will continue to protect ourselves from this unfortunate situation of the incessant attacks by the bandits and kidnappers. I doff my cap for people Jajiwol village and surrounding who stood up against the attackers on Tuesday and rescued some of the victims.” he stressed.
He strongly commended their courage and called on residents of other villages that are targets of the attacks, to gear up and protect themselves until such a time, the government will deem it necessary to protect them.
“We will continue to pray to Allah for divine intervention in the situation, especially, freedom for those kidnapped by the criminals, to be reunited with their families in good health.”