Residents of Ungwan Ate in Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State, took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the relentless attacks and kidnappings plaguing their community and nearby villages.
The protesters blocked the Ungwan Ate–Ungwan Mission road on the Kaduna-Kachia highway, urging the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to act quickly to protect their lives and property.
They expressed frustration that bandits had turned their communities into war zones, leaving them in constant fear.
One protester told Daily Trust that gunmen raided Ungwan Ate on Tuesday night, operating for over two hours and abducting one person.
“We are no longer safe. These bandits strike whenever they want, and we are left to fend for ourselves. The government and security forces need to act quickly before more lives are lost,” the protester said.
Carrying placards with messages like “The Kaduna government says it has made peace with the bandits, but we are being killed daily in Kachia,” “Uncountable souls are in the bush suffering for crimes they didn’t commit,” and “We can no longer sleep with our eyes closed. Who is killing us?” the protesters made their demands clear.
This protest comes amid a rise in kidnappings across Kachia Local Government, with nearby communities like Gadanji, Ungwan Wage, Ungwan Alhaji, Agunu Dutse, Maro, and Ungwan Dauje also facing frequent attacks. Residents claim security presence in the area remains inadequate despite repeated pleas for help.
Efforts to contact the Kaduna State Police for comment were unsuccessful. Both calls and messages to Police Public Relations Officer DSP Mansir Hassan went unanswered.
Residents continue to urge the government for urgent intervention to restore peace to the region.
