According to Arewa Voice’s findings, several people who occasionally ply their trade and spend the night in town have questioned their decision to remain behind after the conclusion of the bustling day market operations. Because of their fear of the unknown, they now prefer to leave town before dark. Kidnapping and banditry are also prevalent in the region, with traders and business people who travel to the area in huge numbers to buy and sell their wares being the primary targets.
The tragic incident that destroyed the Catholic College chapel was the result of a botched kidnapping attempt on the owner of a nearby filling station. According to Arewa Voice, the gunmen stormed the town on Sunday evening and laid siege to the victim, who managed to flee before the gunmen could capture him. It was discovered that in a desperate attempt to avoid the wrath of enraged community members and probable mob action, including lynching, the criminal elements resorted to intermittent firing to scare people away. During the operation, they detonated a huge explosive material that destroyed the Catholic Church chapel.
Principal of the College, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ikyaan, told Arewa Voice: “I was at the priest’s residence not too far from the school premises when we heard the explosion late Sunday evening. We are grateful that no one was injured and no life was lost although some parts of the chapel, which also serves as a hall was destroyed. This is the first time we are experiencing something like this in our school. We want the matter investigated by the authorities concerned.”
Contacted, spokesman of the state police command, DSP Abdullahi Usman, said the explosion was caused by a stick of dynamite thrown by the kidnappers who were trying to escape from being caught. He said: “In order to escape, the kidnappers started shooting into the air to scare off people, and this led to the injury of some persons. They also threw a stick of dynamite into the Catholic chapel of the college which destroyed some parts of it. The situation is calm now and normalcy has returned.”
According to a grain merchant in Mutumbiyu, traders are being targeted by kidnappers in the region. He urged the government and security forces to intervene before the situation devolved into full-fledged banditry.
