Residents of parts of Kaduna metropolis said suspected bandits had taken over strategic locations in the city, using them as hideouts and raising fears of insecurity within urban areas of the state.
An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity told Saturday Telegraph that over 200 suspected terrorists are allegedly 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 motorcycles normally sleep at Sabo abattoir,” the source said in a voice message. The source further 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.
“Karji people also reported strange faces doing Okada over there,” the source added, claiming the information originated from an unnamed security expert.
The source declined to share the expert’s contact, citing security reasons but added “The person I know wouldn’t want me to share his number with anybody. Probably for security reasons. Everybody is being careful.”
Some Kaduna residents told this reporter 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 pathetically said.
There was no immediate comment from security agencies on the claims at the time of filing this report. However, when our reporter visited the area on Friday on the spotcheck, the Vice Chairman Butchers Union, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Suleiman denied the allegations, describing it as untrue, stressing that he resume work by 7am and close the premises by 8pm every day.
The vice chairman also emphasised that he ensures the main gate of the abbatoir is locked before he leaves on daily basis, leaving behind their security man and two of his friends to sleep in the area located at number 54, opposite Timber shade Ungwan Pama road.
He further explained that “Nobody, not even any bike man or motorbikes are allowed to stay or sleep inside in the night till morning”, insisting that bikes men only come around when he resumes work. “Just recently, they roofed the place.
Before there was no room to sleep. The bike men come, park, rests, eat and sometimes wash their bikes, pointing at the direction where some of them were washing their bike at the time of visiting, also adding that they only park their bikes for few times,” he said.
