Jos Residents Cry for Help as Kidnappers Lay Siege to Community

Residents of Dong Community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State have decried what they describe as incessant kidnapping of members of their community by kidnappers.

The residents have send a Save Our Souls (SOS) message to government and security agencies to restore normalcy and confidence of the people living in the community.

The residents were reacting to the kidnaped of two people in the community on Sunday evening of 14th September, 2025, during a visit by member representing Jos North West State Constituency, Hon. Mark Na’ah to the residence of the kidnaped victims on Monday to sympathize with the family.

Mrs. Franca Diwa, Women leader of the community lamented that within two months they have spent appropriately N200 million naira on ransom payment to the kidnappers who have hold sway to the community. She said if government will not take action to protect them, the women will take the law into their hands.

“We need proper security in the community. People are selling their Houses. So many people have said they are leaving Dong and we the women are always at the receiving end. Please we want the government to come to our help.” She cried out.

Mr. Nenfort Clifford, the chairman Dong Community Development Association lamented that the community has endured the evil activities of the kidnappers for too long, as they no longer sleep with their eyes closed.

He noted that the incident is giving the state a bad name as majority of ITF staff live in the area due to its proximity with the ITF Headquarters in Jos.

The District Head of Dong, Adagwom Kaze Nyam said they have cried out severally for help but the help is far from coming their way. He said the kidnappers are well armed with Guns while they have nothing to confront them or protect themselves. He appealed for a Divisional Police Station that can assist in the community.

The community alleged that sometimes ago the kidnappers were apprehended and taken to force headquarters and for over six months they never heard of kidnapping in the area until when they were eventually released and they continue with their operation.

Narrating the Sunday kidnapped incident, Mr. Solomon Dansura, the owner of the house recalled that it was shortly after having time with his family from the parlor around 10 to 10:15 pm when he had a strange sound repeatedly from the widow. He said when he checked, he noticed 3 young guys and he screamed and when his family members heard of it they begin to take cover.

He narrated that when the kidnappers discovered that the window burglary was difficult to break, they moved to the main door with their equipment while he decided to use the back door and jumped through the fence screaming for help.

He said after they came out with neighbours and then they heard gunshots by the kidnappers, before the arrival of some army who ransacked the house but unfortunately the kidnappers have already succeeded in taking his sister in-law who is a corp member serving in Bauchi State and one of his guests, a 300 level student who came to stay with him for a short break because his parents are in Delta State.

It was revealed that the kidnapped sister in-law of Mr. Dansura who is a corp member is planning for her wedding, coming up on November 29, 2025.

Mr. Dansura said as at after 7am of Monday, 15/09/2025, the kidnappers made a call and placed a demand of 50 million naira with a threat to get the money ready before their next call.

While sympathizing with the family and the entire community, the member representing Jos North West in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Mark Na’ah described the repeated kidnapping in the area as worrisome.

He said as their representative, he had moved motion specifically on the rate of kidnapping in Dong Community. He appealed to them to be calm as he is doing everything possible within the ambit of the law to ensure their safety.

Hon. Na’ah decried that the kidnappers have turned the community into a business center, appealing that if nothing is done, the situation might get out of control if the people decide to seek justice in their own way.

He said the report he received during security meeting with the community, said the released kidnappers returned with a threat that since they made the security to arrest them, they will come back to the community and recover what they spent before their release.

He appealed to security agencies to redouble their efforts in addressing the incident as he also solicited the help of President Bola Tinubu to come to the aid of his Constituents, noting that enough of paying ransom for criminals to continue buying sophisticated weapons to carry out crime.

Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Barr. John Christopher was also at the residence of Mr. Solomon Dansura to sympathize with the family as they take further steps to address the situation with the help of security agencies.

The swift visit by the lawmaker and Chairman of the council calm tension in the area as it was gathered that youths and women of the community were already mobilizing to block the major road leading to the community in protest.