Anxiety engulfs parts of Kaduna over movements of suspected bandits

GABRIEL UDEH, KADUNA

Residents of parts of Kaduna metropolis have raised alarm over the presence of suspected bandits allegedly using the Sabon Tasha abattoir as a nightly hideout, a claim strongly denied by the butchers’ union in the area.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that over 200 suspected terrorists on motorcycles were using the abattoir in Sabon Tasha as a nightly base.

“Information reaching us now is that bandits are all over Kaduna town. Over 200 of them with bikes normally sleep at Sabo abattoir,” the source said in a voice message. The source urged residents to be cautious about their movements and conversations, warning that informants could be living within communities.

Residents of Karji community along Yakowa Road, also known as the new road, reportedly raised similar concerns after noticing an influx of unfamiliar faces operating commercial motorcycles, popularly called _okada_, in the area. The source claimed the information came from a security expert but declined to share the contact for security reasons.

Some residents said they had heard the information days earlier but felt powerless beyond prayer. “There’s nothing we can do about it other than prayers,” one resident said.

Security agencies had not commented on the claims at the time of filing this report.

Butchers’ union denies allegations…

During an on-the-spot check on Friday, Vice Chairman of the Butchers Union, Sabon Tasha, Yusuf Lawal Suleiman, dismissed the allegations as untrue. He said he opens the premises at 7 a.m. and closes by 8 p.m. daily, locking the main gate before leaving.

“Nobody, not even any bike man or motorbikes are allowed to stay or sleep inside here in the night till morning,” Suleiman said. He explained that bike riders only come around during working hours to park, rest, eat, and wash their bikes.

He said the area was recently roofed, but before then there was no room for anyone to sleep inside. Suleiman added that after the Sabon Tasha Divisional Police Officer raised the same allegations days earlier, the union advised police to patrol the abattoir to verify that no motorbike riders or suspected bandits were sleeping there.

Okada riders confirm influx of strangers…

Leaders of the commercial motorcycle riders’ union at Ungwan Pama Road Bus Stop said they had noticed a sharp increase in unregistered okada riders in the area.

Chairman Ibrahim Auta and Secretary Gideon K. Baba said many of the riders operate 24 hours and end up sleeping along the road or in open spaces such as shops.

“Actually, pertaining motorcycles that are in Sabo, we are seeing a lot of _okadas_ now. Before, there were not plenty as we are seeing them now. And most of them, they sleep outside. They work 24 hours, they sleep on the road,” Baba said.

He added that none of the riders sleeping on the street were registered members of their union, which uses stickers to identify members.

A shop owner who spoke anonymously also said many of the riders appeared unfamiliar with nearby streets and communities when asked for directions, suggesting they were strangers to the area.

The Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, had not responded to inquiries at the time of filing this report.