Youths in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa have trooped out on Tuesday to blocked the Yola-Girei-Gombi Federal Highway to protest against kidnapping in the area.
The youths who rendered many travelers and motorists stranded said they would not open the road until authorities, particularly the governor or commissioner of police arrive to address them on commitment to address the menace.
Spokesman of the youths who is also the traditional Youth Leader (Sarkin Matasa) of Girei District, Alhaji Saidu Hamman Girei, said recently about 10 people in the community had lost their lives to kidnappers, while between N60 to N70 million was paid as ransom to kidnappers.
“We mobilized and supported the security in arresting about 11 suspects with incriminating evidences but what we are hearing now is that there is order from the police headquarters that the suspects be release.
“We want the Commissioner of Police to come and tell us why because serious tension is brewing here.
“I had to intervened yesterday to stop the youth from burning down Girei police station,” Hamman-Girei said.
When contacted, the Adamawa Police Command Spokesman, DSP Suleiman Yahaya Ngoroje, said the Commissioner of Police had sent Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to Girei to handle the situation.
Ngoroje however said that he was not aware of any suspect that was ordered to be release, adding that about 8 suspected kidnappers were facing prosecution in court, while four others had been transferred to Force Headquarters Abuja for further investigations.
The spokesman lauded the public support to police in the fight against kidnappers and assured that the command would not disappoint them.
“Go to magistrate court now if you want to confirm that suspects were being prosecuted, ” he added.
