The village heads of Balma and Unguwan Bakutunbe in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State were abducted from their respective residences between Saturday and early Sunday.
Their abduction is coming on the heels of last week’s kidnapping of two Fulani men, Alhaji Malami in Ware Ware village and Alhaji Buba Kwancikwaniya in Yelwa village, both in Ningi LGA.
The most recent incidents, according to information obtained by VERIFIED NIGERIA, took place over a short period of time.
Gunmen reportedly stormed the villages, fired randomly to frighten locals, kidnapped the two traditional rulers, and fatally shot one person.
During a phone call with journalists, a Balma resident who wished to remain anonymous told the reporters that the unidentified gunmen stormed the village at 11 pm and made their way straight to Sarki’s home, shooting sporadically to scare people away.
The source claimed that after the gunmen whisked away the village head, one Alhaji Haruna Dan OC was discovered lying in a pool of blood, having been shot in the neck. He was taken to Ningi General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The gunmen allegedly stormed Bakutunbe that same Saturday night and kidnapped Ya’u Gandu Maliya and Idris Mai Anguwa, two men who served as Mai Anguwa (neighbourhood leaders).
The kidnappers allegedly demanded N8 million in ransom for each of Mai Anguwa and Maliya.
Bauchi State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, confirmed the abduction of Alhaji Hussaini Saleh, the village head of Balma, and added that a victim, Haruna Jibrin, was shot in the head by the suspected kidnappers.
The police spokesperson, who was unable to confirm whether or not the victim was dead, stated: “Right now, the police in Ningi Division are searching the bush to see how they can rescue the abducted village head.”
