Sabon Gayan Community in Kaduna State on Sunday blocked Kaduna – Abuja Expressway to protest the killing and dismembering of the body of the leader of the community vigilante group.

Some members of the community who spoke to our reporter said Haruna Maikaji, the leader of the local vigilante, was abducted by kidnappers in his farm and stoned to death for trying to mobilise his members to confront the kidnappers in the surrounding bushes.

“The kidnappers got information of a meeting convened by Mallam Haruna three days ago, to mobilise his members to assist security agents in confronting the kidnappers in surrounding bushes.

“The kidnappers picked him up this morning and tried to shoot him to death. But, bullets couldn’t penetrate him, so they pelted him to death with stones and then dismembered the body. It’s very gruesome; we just gathered the dismembered body for burial.

“Three Fulani men were killed in a reprisal attack and the main road is currently blocked by irate community youths who are also insisting that, the governor must come to the place and address their problem before they will open the road.

“I am standing right in front of the bodies of the Fulani men who were killed, but one of them escaped with matchet wounds,” Rabi’u Salisu, a trader, told our reporter on phone.

“The irate community youths said they would not mind spending days until the governor comes despite attempt to dispersed them with tear gas by the police and army,” Saratu Musa, a house wife, said.

“Deputy Governor Bala Bantex and top security officers are still at the scene trying to calm the situation, but the community is insisting that the governor must come,” she added.

Cyril Abeh, Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, could not be reached and did not respond to text message sent to his number.

The hold-up as a result of the blockade extended up to the toll gate, about five kilometres from Sabon Bayan, scene of the incident, when our reporter visited the area.

Some vehicles were seen packed at various locations along the road for with others returning to Abuja and Kaduna axis for their safety.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows traffic grid along Kaduna – Abuja road caused by blockade by Sabon Gayan community protesting the gruesome murder of the vigilante leader by kidnappers.

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