Bandits in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State are now demanding cooked food as ransom for kidnapped victims, according to residents.
The bandits have reportedly stopped invading communities after the government banned weekly markets as part of measures to tackle insecurity in the State.
A youth leader in one of the villages of Birnin Gwari, Babangida Yaro reportedly said since the ban, bandits operating along Damari, Kutemashi and Kuyello villages only ask for cooked food each time they abduct people.
According to him, the ban on sale of petrol at filling stations located in rural communities has also helped to restrict their movement.
“There is relative peace around Damari, kuyello, Kutemashi because the bandits have stopped attacking our communities. They usually stay in the forest and seize food items mostly cooked ones from vendors,” he said.
He added that when they abducted two or three persons in farms, one is allowed to go and get them food from their relatives as ransom since there is no communication network to make contact.
The youth leader added that Dogon Dawa area is still not completely safe because villagers are still scared of accessing their farmlands.
Babangida also lamented that the ban on use of private Motorcycles in the villages had increased hardship on the bandits as well as residents
– Media Report