My community turned ghost town after kidnappers seized my brother’s wife, child — Relative

Mohammed Suleiman, brother-in-law of a kidnap victim, Hazare, speaks with TOHEEB OMOTAYO about the attack by terrorists on Wodata community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, the growing fear in the community, and the family’s appeal for Hazere and her daughter’s safe return

Can you take us back to that Saturday night when terrorists attacked Wodata community?

Wodata is my village. At about 9:17pm on that terrible Saturday, I received a distress call from people in the community, who narrated how the attack unfolded.

According to what I was told, residents had gathered at the mosque to observe the last prayer of the day, Solatul Isha’i. Shortly after the prayer commenced, they began to hear the sound of gunshots.

Because the attack was unexpected, the worshippers became confused and started running out of the mosque. Before they knew what was happening, they realised that armed assailants, whom residents suspected to be terrorists, had entered the village and were attempting to abduct people.

Some of the people they tried to take away struggled with them and managed to escape. However, the villagers were largely helpless because they were unarmed and could not confront people who were shooting sporadically into the air.

The gunshots continued, making it dangerous for anybody to move close to the attackers. The villagers could not repel them, so they began calling for the intervention of security personnel in the area.

Unfortunately, before security operatives could effectively intervene, the attackers had taken away my brother’s wife, Hazare, who is a nursing mother, along with her daughter, Rukayat.

At what point did residents realise that Hazare and her daughter had been kidnapped?

That was one of the most frightening aspects of the attack. Initially, people could not immediately determine who had been taken because there was so much confusion, and the gunshots were continuous.

Residents were running into the bush, while others hid in different places for safety. Even after the attackers had started leaving the village, they continued firing into the air as they moved deeper into the bush.

It was only after the gunshots subsided and residents gradually began returning and gathering in the village that they started accounting for one another.

That was when it became clear that two people were missing — Hazare and her daughter, Rukayat. By then, the attackers had already moved far away with them.

What happened after the security forces were alerted?

Minutes after the attackers left, security personnel, including soldiers and local vigilantes, arrived in the community and immediately began a search operation.

They attempted to trace the direction the attackers had taken, with the hope that they could intercept them before they moved too far into the bush.

However, residents expressed some concern when the soldiers began firing into the air. Some villagers appealed to them to stop because they feared that the sound of gunshots could alert the kidnappers and make them move farther away with their captives.

The security personnel went into the bush and searched extensively, but they were unable to find any trace of the abductors or the victims. Eventually, they returned to reorganise.

What steps did you personally take after learning about the attack?

After receiving information about the attack, I tried to reach out to relevant authorities. I got the contact of the local government chairman and sent him a message.

He responded that they were aware of the incident and were working on it. The secretary also sent me a message, saying efforts were being made. The following day, which was Sunday, I left where I was and travelled to the community to assess the situation myself. What I found when I got there was quite disturbing.

What did you meet there?

Only a few residents were left in the village, apart from some people who had come to sympathise with the affected family.

I had expected that considering the seriousness of the incident and the fact that it had already been reported publicly, there would be a stronger security presence in the community to prevent another attack. Unfortunately, the people appeared to have been largely left to their fate.

Have government officials or representatives visited the community or the family since the attack?

As I am speaking with you, nobody from the federal, state or local government has visited the community to assess the situation or meet with the family of the victims.

Personally, I expected that some government representatives would come around to sympathise with the people, speak with the family and find out whether we had established any contact with the kidnappers.

But nothing of that nature has happened so far. Nobody has come to ask whether we have received any information about the whereabouts of Hazare and her daughter or whether there is any development regarding efforts to rescue them.

For us, that is painful because these are not just statistics; they are human beings — a mother and her daughter — who were taken away from their home.

Since the attack, have the kidnappers contacted the family or made any demand?

No, we have not received any direct contact from them as of now. We are still waiting and hoping for positive information.

The family reported the matter to the nearest station of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and we believe the appropriate authorities are aware of what happened. At the moment, we are simply expecting that the security agencies will intensify their efforts and do everything possible to locate and safely rescue them.

Attacks like this have occurred repeatedly in parts of Kwara North. Was this the first time Wodata had experienced such an incident?

No. This was not the first kidnap incident in Wodata. About two months ago, a housewife was kidnapped from the same village, and the incident happened within the same general area. Her family eventually secured her release after ransom was reportedly paid.

The husband did not disclose the amount that was paid, so I cannot say exactly how much it was. But it was clear that money was paid before his wife regained her freedom. What is particularly worrying is that the location of that earlier kidnapping is not far from where this latest attack occurred.

How has the disappearance of Hazare and her daughter affected the family?

It has been extremely difficult for the family. Imagine going to bed or preparing for the night and suddenly receiving news that armed men have invaded your community and taken away your wife and child.

The emotional burden is enormous. There is fear, uncertainty and helplessness because we do not know where they are or the conditions under which they are being held.

Hazare is a nursing mother, and the fact that she was taken with her daughter makes the situation even more painful. Every member of the family is praying and hoping that they will return safely. At this point, all we want is to see them alive and reunited with their loved ones.

How has the attack affected the general mood in Wodata?

The atmosphere in the community is nothing to write home about. Residents are still living in fear and panic. The attack has created a sense of uncertainty, particularly because people have not seen the kind of sustained security presence that would reassure them that another attack cannot happen.

Many residents are leaving the community. Those who have relatives or somewhere else to go are moving out because they no longer feel safe. The people who are still there are mostly those who do not have the means or an alternative place to relocate to.

They feel trapped. They are hoping and praying for God’s protection while living with the fear that another attack could occur. Honestly, the entire village is gradually becoming like a ghost town.

Have people who fled during and after the attack started returning?

No. Most of the people who left during and after the attack have not returned. The only people who have largely remained are those who do not have anywhere else to go. They are staying because they have no other option.

But even those who remain are not at peace. They are living in uncertainty and constantly hoping that another attack will not happen. That is why we are appealing for urgent intervention. If nothing is done to restore confidence and provide adequate security, more people may continue to leave.

What does it mean for a small community like Wodata when residents begin to abandon their homes?

It means the community is gradually losing its life. People cannot go about their normal activities when they are constantly afraid. Farmers may become reluctant to go to their farms, families may move away, and businesses and other social activities will be affected.

A village that should ordinarily be active can become deserted simply because people no longer feel safe. That is why we believe intervention should not only focus on responding after an attack. There should be efforts to prevent future attacks and reassure residents that they can remain in their homes safely.

There are reports that security operatives are stationed around the axis. Do you think the victims could have been saved if the response had been quicker or security presence stronger?

From what I gathered from residents and from my own visit to the community, I believe a stronger and more effective security response could have made a difference.

The villagers who attempted to resist the attackers did not have sophisticated weapons. The gunshots they were able to fire were not comparable to what the attackers were using.

Residents described a situation in which the attackers had the advantage because they were armed and could keep shooting sporadically, making it impossible for unarmed or poorly equipped villagers to confront them.

If there had been adequately equipped security personnel close enough to respond immediately, perhaps the situation could have been handled differently.

But I do not want to sit here and say with certainty that the victims would definitely not have been kidnapped. What I can say is that a stronger security presence and a quicker response could have improved the chances of preventing the attack or intercepting the attackers.

What kind of security arrangement do you think is needed to protect Wodata and other vulnerable communities in the area?

There should be a sustained and visible security presence, not just a temporary deployment after an attack has occurred. The authorities should study the terrain and identify vulnerable communities and routes frequently used by criminal elements.

There should also be better coordination between the military, other security agencies, and local vigilante groups who understand the terrain and can provide useful information.

Most importantly, the response to distress calls must be as swift as possible. In situations like this, every minute matters.

Wodata should not be allowed to become completely deserted because residents are afraid for their lives. Government officials should visit, meet with the community, and speak directly with the family of the kidnapped victims. That would at least give the people a sense that they have not been abandoned.

What would the safe return of Hazare and Rukayat mean to the family and the community?

It would mean everything to us. Right now, the family is living with uncertainty. Every day that passes without information is another day of pain and anxiety.

Their safe return would bring relief not only to their immediate family but also to the entire community, which has been deeply affected by what happened.

But beyond bringing them back, we want to see measures put in place so that another family will not have to go through the same experience.