Residents of Unguwar-Yusi (Graceland area), Hanwa Ward, in the Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have raised an alarm over increasing cases of armed robbery, phone snatching, and assaults in their community.

Mohammed Abdullahi, ward head of Unguwar-Yusi (Graceland Area), disclosed this in Zaria on Sunday.

Mr Abdullahi said the area had been facing a series of violent attacks by suspected armed robbers who were inflicting injuries, stealing valuables, and even assaulting women.

The community leader appealed to the Kaduna State government and relevant security agencies to strengthen security in the community, decrying that residents now live in fear due to frequent nighttime raids.

“The criminals come in large numbers with English pistols, Dane guns, and cutlasses. They injure victims and take away money and valuables,” he bemoaned.

Mr Abdullahi, however, commended the police at the Dan Magaji Divisional Police Headquarters for arresting some of the perpetrators.

According to him, the community leaders had visited the station and identified the suspects, most of whom were not area residents.

He also disclosed that a community vigilance committee had been established to patrol the area but said the robbers often overpowered them, as they were armed with sophisticated weapons.

Mr Abdullahi lamented that the conversion of residential buildings into hotels had worsened insecurity, attracting strange visitors and making it difficult to monitor movements in the area.

“We are appealing to the police, KASUPDA, and KADVIS to clamp down on illegal hotels in residential zones,’’ he said.

He also called for the establishment of a police outpost in the area and the installation of solar-powered streetlights to improve nighttime security.

Several residents narrated their ordeals during the recent attacks.

Ladi-Koza Daniel, a resident of the Graceland Area, said her home was invaded by four suspected armed robbers at about 2:15 a.m. on October 8.

“They attacked my brother and broke his arm. I sustained wounds while trying to protect myself,” she said.

Ms Daniel added that the robbers also attacked her neighbours, including Mai-Dukiya and a medical doctor.

Similarly, Friday James, another victim, said he was attacked by about eleven hoodlums on October 9.

He said, “They broke into my house at about 3:00 a.m. with pistols and cutlasses. I tried to resist, but they stabbed me in the neck and other parts of my body before carting away laptops and valuables.”

Meanwhile, a statement by DSP Mansur Hassan, the state police spokesperson, on Wednesday confirmed that police operatives had arrested key suspects linked to the attacks.

According to him, on October 15, officers from the Dan Magaji Division acted on intelligence in the Gwargwaje area, where two suspects opened fire on the police but were subdued.

One of the suspects, Sadiq Idris (21) of Kumbotso, Kano State, was arrested with an English pistol, five rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a pump-action gun.

He said that further investigations led to the arrest of Usman Aminu (21) of Panshekara, Kano, along with Abdulaziz Usman (25), Jibren Yahaya, Hajara Abdulkarim (20), and Fatima Alhassan (18), while various weapons and incriminating items were recovered.

The community, while appreciating the police for their prompt intervention, urged sustained surveillance and collaboration with local vigilance groups to restore peace and confidence among residents.

“We only hope justice will be done and our community will once again be safe,” the community leader said.

(NAN)