The killing spree in Kaduna state continued Sunday as a group of bandits Sunday killed nine people in Zankoro in Birnin Gwari local government area of the state.
But the gunmen retuned Monday to kidnap 11 and injure six others in Dan Kungi in the same local government area, a development that forced residents to raise the alarm over incessant attacks on the communities.
Addressing journalists Monday in Kaduna, Chairman of the Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU), Barrister Salisu Haruna, said bandits carried out series of killings and kidnapping in the area and along the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna and Birnin Gwari-Funtua highways.
He therefore called on both the federal and the state governments not to abandon the people to their fate, as 40 people were kidnapped variously between December 20th, 2020 and January 4th, 2021 and currently in bandits’ captivity.
Haruna said: “The New Year 2021 has begun in a sorrowful way and with tears for the people of Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state. On Sunday, 3rd January, 2021, armed bandits laid siege on innocent travellers at Zankoro, along the dreaded Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Highway, killing nine people (including three infants) that were on their way to a ceremony at Doka, Birnin Gwari local government.
“Similarly, the bandits came out today Monday 4th January, 2021 in the same Zankoro at about 9.00 am, shooting sporadically and abducting unspecified number of people and wounded six others that are now receiving treatment at Buruku along Kaduna – Birnin Gwari Highway.
“In the last two weeks, bandits have been terrorising the people of Birnin Gwari, especially those travelling along Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highways have become intensely aggressive, as they continue to kill and abduct innocent citizens unabated.
“With dismay, Birnin Gwari Progressive Union (BEPU) frowns at the seemingly laissez faire attitude towards banditry in Birnin Gwari area by the governments at all levels. From December 20th, 2020 to January 4th, 2021, bandits have mercilessly terrorised the people of Birnin Gwari kidnapping over 40 of them at homes, farms and during travels.”
“The bandits have ruthlessly been killing the people of Birnin Gwari and the Kaduna state government has evidently chosen to take off her eyes from our pathetic situation, at least by acknowledging cases of abductions and serial killings.
“Hence, BEPU calls on the Kaduna state government to note that: there are cases of kidnappings and killings everyday along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna and Birnin Gwari-Funtua highways. There are more than 40 abductees currently at the mercy of the bandits who were kidnapped between 20th December 2020 and Monday 4th January 2021; some of them have been reported terribly ill.
“A total of nine innocent travellers were killed at Zankoro along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway on Sundaym, 3rd January, 2021. A total of 11 people were kidnapped at Dan Kungi village on Sunday, 3rd January, 2021.
“BEPU therefore calls on the government to deploy immediate response squad to mount offensive operations along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna and Birnin Gwari-Funtua highways. We also urge the government to sit up to its responsibility and protect the lives and property of defenceless people of Birnin Gwari whose blood is spilled daily by the bandits.
“We seriously urge the government to launch an offensive to neutralise bandits terrorising Birnin Gwari increasingly, whose skills and warfare strategies are advanced every day. Enough is enough,” BEPU further said.
