Despite repeated assurance by the Military High Command and other security agencies that activities of armed bandits have been curtailed, the Birnin Gwari Progressives Union (BEPU) said that armed bandits have taken over the area.
It also frowns at the seeming laissez-faire attitude towards banditry in the Birnin Gwari area by the governments at all levels.
Chairman, Birnin Gwari Progressives Union (BEPU), Barrister Salisu Haruna who said this in a statement added that the New Year 2021 has begun in sorrow and tears for the people of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
He said that on Sunday, 3rd January 2021, armed bandits lay siege on innocent travelers at Zankoro, along the dreaded Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway, killing nine people, including 3 infants that are on their way for a ceremony at Doka, Birnin-Gwari Local Government.
He further disclosed that the bandits came out today Monday 4th January 2021 at the same Zankoro at about 9.00 am, shooting sporadically and abducted an unspecified number of people, and wounded six others that are currently receiving treatment at Buruku along Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari Highway.
According to him, “the last two weeks, bandits terrorizing the people of Birnin Gwari, especially those traveling along Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highways have become intensely aggressive as they continue to kill and abduct innocent citizens unabated.
“From December 20th, 2020 to January 4th, 2021, bandits have mercilessly terrorized the people of Birnin Gwari thereby kidnapping 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 by the bandits as it does on other areas like Lere of recent.
“Hence, BEPU tersely calls on the Kaduna State Government to note that:
There are cases of kidnappings and killings every day 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 (9) innocent travelers were killed at Zankoro along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway on Sunday 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”.
The group also urged the government to sit up to its responsibility and protect the lives and property of defenseless people of Birnin Gwari whose bloods are spilled daily by the bandits.
In conclusion, the Union tasked the government to launch an offensive attack to neutralize bandits terrorizing Birnin Gwari whose skills and warfare strategies are increasingly advancing every day.
