Amidst coronavirus pandemic residents of Ibi town in southern Taraba state were again thrown into agony and despair when a new groom and 5 others were abducted at gun point by bandits in the area.
Reports say that the bride and 5 others, after the wedding fatiha, at Gboko town in the neighboring Benue state, were abducted gunmen stopped their vehicle along Wukari-Ibi road.
Residents in a phone call that the victims, mostly youths, were kidnapped on Friday’s evening at a village calls Dan-Wanzam about four -five kilometers away from Ibi town.
Confirming the kidnap, a community leader in the area who asked not to be named for security reasons, said that the gunmen operated with impunity.
“They simply stopped a bus that was conveying the groom with his friends mostly youths.
‘’With the groom, six people were kidnapped and the incident took place about 4-5 kilometers from Ibi main town.
‘’The kidnappers were mostly Fulani herdsmen residing in our areas, we all knew them. They asked for N10million as ransom which we declined.
‘’To be fair to our security operatives, police have tried in collaboration with local vigilantes.
‘’ Our vigilantes need little support to engage these bandits. The government needs to mobilize the vigilantes and support them to enable them discharge their work effectively,” said the community leader.
Revenge Threat
For now, youths and other spirited individuals in the area are bracing up to challenge the bandits that kept terrorizing residents.
‘’ We will challenge them because the Ibi-Wukari road is now a danger zone because at any point they (bandits) can strike. They operate with impunity along that highway because it’s bordering Ibi-Wukari and Benue.
‘’Amidst coronavirus, what a double troubles? Haba, enough is enough!
‘’ We want them to release them on conditionally; or they shall taste the bitter pill.
‘’ We know all their people and families, we too can revenge, so they should hurriedly better release them, in their interest or to face our anger; we are tired of all the nonsense!’’ So exclaims one of concerned leader.
In the meantime, police spokesman in the state DSP David Misal had confirmed the incidence saying that, some bandits suspected to be kidnappers armed with AK 47 rifles, blocked Wukari – Ibi road stopped a vehicle and took the occupants into the bush.
He added that a search party led by operation puff adder went after the hoodlums and is yet to succeed in rescuing the victims.
Misal assured that the police are currently combing the bush with a view to rescuing the victims.
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