Many travellers are trapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway as angry residents have reportedly blocked the road over attacks by armed bandits.
The protest was triggered by the killing of a 13-year-old girl by the criminals, Daily Trust reports.
The tragic incident occurred at Anguwar Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Residents said bandits stormed the house of the village head and abducted his family as well as other persons in the community.
A resident of the area told Daily Trust that they were not safe at home and their farms.
“We cannot go to our farms and yet they will follow us to our homes to abduct us for ransom. They killed a 13-year-old girl, a security man in the village as well as abducted other residents including the family of the village head,” he said.
He explained that the residents only want security or to be allowed to protect themselves against the bandits.
A witness told Daily Trust that the protesters refused to listen to the plea of security personnel who approached them.
The witness, who did not want to be named, said the protesters have been out since 7:30am.
“The villagers are very angry. They blocked the road and insisted that no one will pass through. When security personnel came, the men withdrew and left their women on the road.”
“Some of the women are half-naked. The soldiers were just begging them to leave the road but the men cheered them on from the roadside.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Jalige Mohammed, told Daily Trust that the State commissioner of police, Umar Muri, has directed the Area Commander to visit the scene of the protest and ensure orderliness.
He said the police are trying to ensure that the road is open to allow road users access as they meet with the community leaders and the protesting youths to discuss the problem.
“There is an incident along the highway but we are trying to control the situation,” he said.
