March 7, 2026 | SUNTV Global News
Tension exploded in the ancient town of Auchi Kingdom on Saturday as angry youths protesting persistent kidnappings launched attacks on Hausa settlements, burning houses and forcing residents to flee.
The unrest followed days of mounting frustration among locals who say abductions and ransom demands have become a daily nightmare in the community.
According to members of the traditional council in the kingdom, kidnappers have repeatedly targeted residents, often demanding ransom payments running into tens of millions of naira.
“For months now we have been facing serious kidnapping problems,” a member of the Otaru Council said. “Almost every day there is a report of someone being abducted. Once they kidnap a person, the ransom they demand can be as high as N100 million. The people can no longer tolerate it.”
Week-Long Protests Before Violence
Before Saturday’s violence, elderly women in the community had staged several peaceful demonstrations across major roads in Auchi, publicly condemning the kidnappings and placing curses on those responsible for the crimes.
The protests, which reportedly lasted for about a week, were aimed at drawing attention to the growing insecurity and demanding urgent action from authorities.
“For about a week now, elderly women have been coming out daily to protest peacefully, saying enough is enough,” the council member explained. “They want kidnapping to stop completely in our community.”
Youths Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
The situation escalated dramatically when groups of youths mobilised across the town on Saturday, vowing to confront what they believed were the sources of the insecurity.
The youths reportedly began identifying individuals they suspected were not permanent residents, particularly focusing on Hausa men believed to be roaming the community without fixed addresses.
Community leaders said the youths insisted that anyone living in Auchi must have a traceable residence.
“At night you see some of them around motorcycles, sleeping outside until morning,” the council member said. “We want every person living here to have a proper place of residence so that if anything happens, authorities know where to find them.”
Houses, Shops Set Ablaze
As tensions rose, the situation spiralled out of control when the youths stormed Hausa quarters in parts of the town, setting houses and shops on fire.
Many residents fled the affected areas as flames consumed buildings and properties, leaving several families displaced.
Army Deployed To Restore Calm
Security forces later intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further. Soldiers of the Nigerian Army were deployed across the town to restore order and disperse the crowds.
However, some residents expressed anger at the military presence, claiming the troops were protecting Hausa settlers rather than addressing the community’s security concerns.
“They are backing the Hausas and stopping the youth and women from taking action,” the council member alleged.
Despite the criticism, he acknowledged that the military had been active in the area, though residents believe stronger measures should have been taken earlier to curb the wave of kidnappings.
A Cosmopolitan Town Under Strain
Historically, Auchi has long been known as a cosmopolitan town that welcomes people from across Nigeria to live and work.
But the recent wave of kidnappings and growing suspicions among residents have strained relations between different ethnic groups in the community.
Some locals claim that increasing migration into the town has heightened fears and complicated the security situation.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident, while security agencies continue efforts to stabilise the area and prevent further violence.
SUNTV Global News will continue to monitor developments in Auchi as the situation unfolds.
