Kidnappers Threaten To Return After Releasing Victim In Jos Community

“They punched me severally on my face, and my eyes were swollen.”

Some kidnappers have allegedly promised to wreak more havoc in Dura, an extension of Rayfield, Jos South Local Government Area, of Plateau State.

They made this known to one of their victims, who shared his ordeal with Peoples Gazette on Saturday.

The victim, who begged to remain anonymous, said he was whisked away on Monday around 7:30 p.m.

“Some small armed Fulani boys, four of them, came and kidnapped me. I just came back from work, and I was about to open my gate when I saw someone with an AK-47 pointing at me. They must have been in the incomplete building close to my house,” he said.

“They took me to an unknown destination in Riyom where they kept me until a ransom of five hundred thousand was paid.

He narrated how they trekked treacherous paths for several kilometres to where he was kept.

“We trekked from 7:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the next day. You’ll think we were on the highway if you see how they navigated the bush. These people know everywhere,” he said.

Narrating how he was treated, he said, “They punched me severally on my face, and my eyes were swollen. I feel better now. I was released the next day, Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.”

When asked if the police were involved in his release, he said, “One of my ogas called the police, but you know, if you involve them, it could only get worse.”

According to him, the kidnappers promised to return to the community.

Speaking to Moses Yusuph, a community leader in Dura, he said he wasn’t aware of the recent kidnapping but claimed he knows the victim.

According to him, the neighbourhood where the victim was kidnapped has a very weak security architecture.

“The security around where you say he (the victim) was kidnapped is very weak. We had an arrangement with them, but they frustrated our efforts, so we had to make alternative plans here at Dura new layout,” he said.

He blamed some of the leaders for being complacent.

“Some of their leaders there will collect money and not want to account for it. That’s how we had issues with the Mai Angwa (community leader), and they chased our Civil Defence guys from the area. Now we have to rely on local hunters for our security,” he said.

When asked if he was aware that kidnappers vow to return, he said, “Certainly” and cited an instance of the kidnapping of a woman and her child in Dura.

According to him, “They will always say they will return, especially when they know that your security is weak.

“The guns our security men have cannot match the AK-47 these people carry around,” he said.

Another community leader, Martins Obidah, said he was also unaware of the recent kidnapping, except for a church member’s relative who was kidnapped a few days ago behind the Court of Appeal in Jos.

According to Mr Obidah, the heightened level of insecurity in the state has been the reason why the community leadership has been stressing the need to take this issue seriously.

“This is why I had to remind residents of the community during our burnfire about paying their security levy. We have noticed improvements even though some people act like they don’t care.

“At this point, it seems the government is clueless,” he said.

Speaking to Police Inspector Banga Moses Kaza, he confirmed that he was contacted when the alleged kidnapping happened.

He mentioned calling someone in SWAT to assist but expressed scepticism about the allegations since they hadn’t been officially reported.

“His oga called me from Abuja to tell me about the kidnapping. The matter wasn’t reported officially, so it made the story a little bit suspicious. After his wife had called, she did not reach out again. I was the one who later called only to be told that he had been released,” he said.

The community had in the past witnessed several kidnappings, especially in the new layout, where the late General Idris Alkali was reportedly ambushed, and his car was found in a pond in 2018.

With heightened insecurity in various parts of Jos and its environs, the victim advised people not to stay out late and to be security-conscious.

“These boys have turned this kidnapping thing into a hustle. Everyone should be vigilant about their security and avoid late nights,” he said.

The Gazette contacted DSP Alfred Alabo, the police spokesperson for the Plateau State Command, to inquire about the kidnapping. He responded, ‘I am not aware,’ and then hung up.

This comes amidst increasing reports of several attacks and kidnappings in Abuja and other parts of the country.