Days after the military cleared part of the Birnin Gwari area of banditry, the bandits struck killing a farmer and abducting three others, while trapping 30 vehicles along the Birnin Gwari – Funtua road.
The Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), Malam Ishaq Usman Kasai, who disclosed this in Kaduna on Sunday night, said the motorists paid huge amount of money to bail their vehicles even as the bandits ensured that the Birnin Gwari – Funtua road remains blocked.
He said, “On Thursday 15th September, 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 enrouted the same community on Friday 16th, snatched a motorcycle (Bajaj Model) and killed the owner (Bala Balansi) instantly before going back to the forest.
“Kurgin Gabas is sharing border with Kamuku Forest Reserve which becomes the hideouts 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 surveillances 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 owners; and many of the travellers that were abducted during the attack on 1st September, 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 people were forced by the armed bandits to pay huge amount 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 mobilization of troops to ensure opening of Birnin Gwari – Funtua Road and for retrieving of trapped vehicles unconditionally. The Union believes that, 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.”