The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) has said that bandits blocked roads, killed two persons and kidnapped scores of people in Birnin-Gwari Council after the visit of the new General Officer Commandant (GOC) of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army Kaduna and his team of gallant troops last Thursday.
In a statement by Ishaq Usman Kasai, the Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU), the union appreciated and commended the Government and the troops on renewed effort towards combating insecurity in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area.
It however noted that, bandits blocked Birnin-Gwari to Funtua road, following the earlier surveillance by the GOC and his team.
According the union, the bandits blocked the road since Thursday, 1st September, 2022 which coincide with Birnin-Gwari Market Day, killed a commercial driver and kidnapped scores of travellers who are yet to be freed. The road is still a no-transit zone.
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They also stated that the bandits attacked Damari community on Saturday 3rd September, 2022 around 10:00pm with one person killed and shops looted.
The statement reads in part: “The Union witnessed that the new General Officer Commandant (GOC) of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army Kaduna personally led a team of gallant troops and went on ground surveillance on Wednesday 31st August, 2022 through Kaduna to Birnin-Gwari and Birnin-Gwari to Funtua roads respectively where some successes were recorded including neutralizing and arresting of some bandits who were intercepted in some communities around the roads.
around Kaduna to Birnin-Gwari road. This is significantly reducing tension and is a welcomed move towards addressing problem of persistent attacks on travellers on the Birnin-Gwari to Kaduna road.
“Regrettably, BEPU observes that the Armed bandits blocked Birnin-Gwari to Funtua road following the earlier surveillance by the GOC and his team. The bandits blocked the road since Thursday, 1st September, 2022 which coincide with Birnin-Gwari Market Day, killed a commercial driver and kidnapped scores of travellers who are yet to be freed. The road is still a no-transit zone.
“As it is now, most communities that are along that road such as Kwasa-kwasa, Marabar Kwasa-kwasa, Nacibi, Farin Ruwa among others are being deserted for fear of any eventuality.
“Again, the armed bandits attaked Damari community on Saturday 3rd September, 2022 by 10:00pm where one person was killed and shops looted. This came after the people who were sacked by armed bandits earlier in August have started returning to the community.
“Layin Lasan Community was also attacked by the same armed bandits in the evening on Sunday 4th September, 2022 where scores of residents were kidnapped and moved to neighbouring forests. Various communities are continued to be attaked by armed bandits silently and unreported.
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“This therefore means that, though security personnel were mobilized particularly on Kaduna to Birnin-Gwari road which is addressing the level of attacks on travellers on the road, insecurity is worsening along Birnin-Gwari to Funtua road and in many communities particularly in the Eastern part of the Local Government.
“Strategically, there is significant need for mobilization of troops to the Western part of Birnin-Gwari particularly in the Kakangi and Randagi axis which shares boundaries with Zanfara and Niger States. This is necessary because it has become the escaping routes for the bandits. In fact, many of these bandits are camping in the Mashigi axis, occupying some sacked communities.”
