RESIDENTS  of Bauchi woke up on Monday this week to the news of a new phenomenon in crime, something they had only read and heard about.

This was coming on the heels of police efforts to checkmate political thuggery perpetrated by street urchins known as sara-suka. However, this new trend is sending shivers down the spines of residents of the  state, though security operatives have assured that they were on top of the  situation.

A former Commissioner of Finance in the Isa Yuguda-led administration, Garba Dahiru, who lives in the Federal Low-cost Housing Estate withing Bauchi metropolis, was the latest victim. He was attacked by yet-to-be identified persons, who not only robbed his entire household, but also kidnapped his only son, 11-year-old Mahmud Garba Dahiru.

Reports had it that the gunmen entered the house at about 8.00 p.m. on Sunday, immediately after  the breaking of the muslim fast and the evening prayers and made straight into the sitting room where  the father of the kidnapped victim was and demanded for money.

Saturday Tribune learnt that  the assailants also went into the main house and ransacked the rooms of Dahiru’s wives, reportedly making away with items including jewellery, as well as the sum of N150,000. When they could not get more, they decided to go away  with the victim’s only son.

Bauchi State Police Command, through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Barau, while speaking with newsmen confirmed the incident, saying though the son of the former commissioner was kidnapped, the case was a robbery attempt rather than kidnapping.

“We gathered that they entered the house and  ransacked it taking away valuable things and demanded for money, but the owner of  the house was able to give them the sum of N150,000, they demanded for more and  when they did not get it, they went away with his son,” the police image maker said.

He, however, said that he was not aware if they were demanding for any  ransom before releasing the boy, but assured that the police were on top of the situation as every security measure had been taken in order to get the boy alive  first and then get the criminals.

The boy’s father, when initially contacted, declined  comments, saying that at the appropriate time, he would talk to the press, just as he expressed confidence that the police were up to the task of finding his son and apprehending the  criminals.

Later, he spoke with journalists. Narrating his ordeal, Dahiru said: “I came back to this house last Sunday evening, I saw the gate opened and entered, trying to park my car. I later saw my orderly and security man who had already surrendered to some people  armed with weapons.”

He added that the gunmen took him to where his orderly and security guard were and told him that it was his  political opponents that sent them to kill him.

“After we pleaded with them, they  asked me to give them money and I brought the only money I have, N150,000. I gave them, but they threw away the money and said what they wanted was money, not these little  papers,” he added.

The ex-finance commissioner also said: “I told them that I don’t have the money, they said they will take something in my house, which they will return after I might have given them the money they wanted. Then they said where are my children.  I said  they were inside the house. They led me into my house and abducted Mahmud.

“We had contact with them over the phone, they said the boy is healthy but they will release him after we pay them money and they advised that we should keep the money in my house and that they will come and collect it after noon prayer. Since then, their phones could not be reached and they have not come to collect the money.”

Barely 24 hours after the incident, criminals again struck,  this time in Sabon Garin Narabi, a few kilometers from Jos, where a 2011 gubernatorial aspirant under the banner of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Abdullahi Sarki Adamu, popularly called ‘Dan China’ was attacked  and one of his guards killed, while another one is receiving treatment from gunshots.

Confirming the robbery attack on the politician, state police commissioner, Danlami Yar’Adua, said: “what happened from the reports reaching us was a robbery  attack at the Sabon-Garin Narabi residence of Dan China and in the process, one his security guards was shot dead while a second one was shot in the legs and is now at the hospital receiving treatment.”

He pointed out that his command had mobilised armed  men to the area with the aim of tracking down the robbers, but said that there might be no link between the kidnappers of the boy and the robbery attack in Narabi.

On the kidnapped boy, Yar’Adua said, “we are making headway and  very soon, by the grace of God, we will get through to the criminals and get the boy reunited with his family, safe and healthy. For now, there is no any cause for alarm.”