A 19-year-old lady identified as Asia Abdul, who was trying to raise funds for her wedding has been kidnapped alongside 20 others in Katsina state.
WITHIN NIGERIA had earlier reported that on October 30, 2022, terrorists abducted 21 youths who were working as farmhands on a farm near Kompani Mayardua village in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, leaving the locals and their relatives in great worry and fear.
Recall that 344 students from the Government Science Secondary school, Faskari, were abducted by terrorists after they struck the same local government office in December 2020. After six days in the terrorists’ custody, the students were eventually freed.
Speaking of the most recent kidnapping, a man by the name of Muntari Auwalu confirmed that one of the victims was his niece.
The man, a commercial motorcyclist in Katsina, claimed he received a call on Sunday night informing him that his niece Asia and other people had been kidnapped on the farm in the afternoon. He claimed that as of Wednesday, efforts were being made to find the ransom being demanded by terrorists from the victims.
Auwalu, who did not disclose the amount, said, “I was called about midnight on Sunday that Asia had been kidnapped and that the terrorists were yet to get across to us on what their demands were. Asia is preparing for her wedding. I think that made her go and do the farmhand job where she was kidnapped.
“I reside in Katsina where I operate commercial motorcycles since terrorists have made it impossible for us to go to our farms again back home at Mairuwa.
“I get in touch with home every day and as at this morning (Wednesday), I was told the terrorists had made known their demands while I was asked to source for my own share of the contribution. I won’t be able to tell you the amount as it is our people at home who have the facts and figures. I will only appeal to the government to improve security in our communities. I and many others from Mairuwa relocated from the village because of the terrorists.”
Residents said the terrorists surrounded the farmland around 3pm on Sunday, October 30, 2022, when the youths were busy harvesting crops on the farmland.
The youths were said to have been hired as labourers from the various communities surrounding the farm, with majority of them said to have been from Mairuwa village.
Names of victims abducted in Katsina farm
The list of the victims made available by the Katsina Police command showed that no fewer than seven girls were among them.
The list also showed that the victims were between the ages of 16 and 21.
The names of the victims as obtained from the police command were Lawal,18; Mandiya,18; Bilikisu (female) 18; Samaila,16; Awanu,16; Dalha,21; Umeh Abdullahi (female),18; Hadiza, (female) 17; Ibrahim Dalha (17); Zainab (female) 17; Aliyu Baba (15) and Yusufu Dana (15).
The rest are Abdullahi, 18; Samaila,18; Shehu,17; Asia Abdul (female) 19; Suwera (female) 16; Abdullahi,17; Aminat (female)18; Sani,15; and Nafiu,17.
Attempts to speak with the Mai Unguwa of Mairuwa were abortive as enquiries regarding the kidnap were directed to Faskari and Katsina.
One of the opinion leaders in the village said, “Please, go to the Emir’s palace in Katsina. We have briefed them. The police have taken over the issue and all we do now is to pray for the safe return of our children, majority of whom are responsible for their upkeep. That is why they went to work as labourers on the farm.”
Residents also claimed that the owner of the farmland where the children were abducted lived in Funtua and hardly ever went there.
Additionally, it was claimed that the owner had previously given a million naira to the terrorists so that he could harvest his crops without being harassed or abducted.
However, nobody could confirm this.
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