A fresh attack happened recently in Kaduna which led to the killing of one person,three abducted and thirty vehicles got seized along Birnin Gwari-Funtua road by terrorists.Malam Ishaq Usman Kasai, the Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), disclosed this on Sunday night.
“On Thursday, September 15, 2022, armed bandits kidnapped three locals at farms in Kurgin Gabas Community in the western part of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state.“The bandits also routed the same community on Friday the 16th, snatching a motorcycle (Bajaj Model) and killing the owner (Bala Balansi) instantly before going back to the forest.“Kurgin Gabas shares a border with Kamuku Forest Reserve, which becomes the hideout of armed bandits and a common route through which the bandits usually come out from their hideouts to carry out attacks on communities in the western part of Birnin Gwari and in the neighbouring Rafi Local Government of Niger State.”
“BEPU acknowledges that the security level at Birnin Gwari to Kaduna Highway has improved following the earlier visit by GOC of 1 Div Kaduna and subsequent mobilisation of troops as well as occasional aerial surveillance along the road by security agencies.” “The Union also observes that attacks are being carried out on some hideouts of the bandits, particularly around Birnin Gwari and Chikun adjoining forests.“However, BEPU is deeply concerned that the Birnin Gwari – Funtua Highway remains blocked by armed bandits whereby about 30 vehicles, including big trucks, are trapped and yet to be retrieved by their owners.”
“Many of the travellers that were abducted during the attack on September 1st, 2022, are yet to be released.“Another disturbing scenario is that the bandits have carted away all the loads/goods contained in the trapped vehicles, and the people have been forced by the armed bandits to pay huge amounts of money ranging from N300,000 to N1,000,000 in order to bail and retrieve their trapped vehicles from the road. The charge disparity depends on the size and nature of the vehicles.“BEPU is therefore appealing for the mobilization of troops to ensure the opening of the Birnin Gwari–Funtua Road and for the retrieval of trapped vehicles unconditionally.” “The Union believes that the opening of the road and sustained surveillance will help in addressing the problem of attacks on travellers and in bringing permanent peace as well as enhancing business and other economic activities in Birnin-Gwari Local Government.” Malam Ishaq Usman Kasa stated this.
This attack follow days after the military claimed to have cleared part of the Birnin Gwari area of banditry.