Kidnappings: AGWA Kaduna Community Cries Out To Govt, Seeks Security Post

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA– The Agwa community of Kudenda,Gwagwalda district of Chikun Local government of Kaduna State has cried out to the Kaduna State government to as a matter of urgency Station a Police or Military Post to mitigate the Spate of kidnapping in the area.

The Community while lamenting the incessant attacks describing it as “highly frequent” within a span of 2-3 weeks, hence the need for the authorities and security agencies to act fast to free their community from the manace

Earlier, a peaceful protest by the Women to press home the need for the Government to do the needful was embarked upon which drew the attention of the authorities

Speaking on the issue, the Leader of Agwa community, Elder Hassan Nuhu, noted that the community is not left out in the prevalent of insecurity in the country, State, however said, Chikun local government is the hot point,” this has been affecting people’s activities in terms of farming, commercial activities,people are not willing to go out from the neighborhood they are living for fear of being kidnapped “he said

He maintained that the frequency is so high” if a thing like that keeps repeating itself, so we appeal to government as we are have been appealing through distress calls, if the government will come to our aid by setting up a security outfit within the area to help in confronting the security issue by way of ending it

“So we want government to help us setup a unit either that of the police or the Military that will have a short time of intervention” whenever they are faced with an attack in the community”he stressed

On the issue of interreligious coexistence and peace in the community, he said ” Agwa community, I can say should be a model to other communities because we are multi religious and multi tribal, but there’s no time any one has raised hands against the other

“To buttress my point there’s is a existing religious worship outfit/centre that only a single wall of a fence that separates the two faiths,that is an exhibition of religious tolerance in Agwa,and there has never been any rancour or infringement in their operations or rights of worship” he added

He however frowned at the use of religious slogans,by the kidnappers,during their operations,describing it as diversionary and hypocritical”the use of religious tunes or slogans during their operations has never changed our perspective as Agwa community members to began to see those aligning to a particular religion “he added

Similarly, the Youth Leader and 2nd in command CJTF,Bitrus Bako said the peaceful protest by the Women is to drive home their displeasure on the spate of kidnapping in their community which he noted enjoyed the support of all and sundry.,adding that as youths and Civilian JTF,they are putting in place the right structures as volunteers,while seeking the support of government to succeed in this regard.

Reiterating the need for prompt action,lMC CPO,Youth leader S/Gari,Mr Eshak Felix,said” we want government to come to our aid,because this community is in the heart of Kaduna, it is not far away from the seat of governance, so we are standing as a buffer “hence the need to deal with it before it “encroach into the state proper” he added

He Further called on government to deal with the problem of unemployment by reviving the moribund industries and textiles to help deal with kidnapping and other forms of criminality which he said the youths are mostly found wanting.

In the Same vein the Imam of Agwa Community Mosque,Alh.MKO(Mr white)commended the Gbgagi community leaders for accommodating them when they first relocated to the community and the permission to build a mosque side by side a church,saying”As people of faith,we are supposed to know that we are serving the same God

” but it the mode of worship that differ.When a Church is situated and sharing the single fence with a mosque, I think it enhances cordial relationship between the two faiths,On kidnapping, he noted that insecurity does not know a Christian or a Muslim,while calling for cooperation as a community to deal with it irrespective of faiths

On his part, the Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church,(Sharing the same fence with the mosque) Pastor Emmanuel Ogbaro,said the relationship between the two major religions has been cordial”we understand ourselves and there’s a memorandum of understanding “

Speaking further on the issue of insecurity, “we are putting our heads together to make this kidnapping come to an end” Adding that, they are praying ceaselessly for God’s intervention,as they urge the government to establish a security post in the community.

Responding the Coordinator CIPP of IMC, Mr Samson Auta,said they are in the community to follow up the report of a peaceful protest by the Women oñ the activities of Kidnappers in the community and how the members mobilized themselves to ensure it does not lead to conflicts

According to him, as an organisation that believes in advancing peaceful coexistence in communities” when we came to the community we heard from them and at IMC and the Media on peace journalism,we also talk about issues that affect people most especially conflict situation, insecurity and any initiative that promote peaceful coexistence

“We noticed that the community have a church and a mosque sharing a fence and this has been there for years and they respect each other’s religion;that’s what the country needs” He then urged them to use this unity to fight their security challenges,with a call on the government to grant the requests of the community

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