Bandits kill 9, abduct 40 on Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway

Armed bandits on Sunday killed nine travellers at Zankoro, along dreaded Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway, including 3 infants on their way to a ceremony at Doka, Birnin-Gwari Local Government.

Also, the bandits on Monday 4th January, at the same Zankoro at about 9.00 am, shooting sporadically abducted unspecified number of people and wounded six others that are now receiving treatment at Buruku along Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari Highway.

This was contained in a statement issued by Birnin Gwari Emitare Progressives Union (BEPU) Chairman, Barrister Salisu Haruna and sent to Solacebase on Monday.

‘’In the last two weeks, bandits 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, said the statement.

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Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) in the statement frowned at the seeming laissez-faire attitude towards banditry in Birnin Gwari area by the governments at all levels.

According to it, 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 on Kaduna-Abuja expressway of recent.’’

The statement noted that 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.

The union, therefore, called on the government to deploy immediate response squad to mount offensive operations along Birnin Gwari Kaduna and Birnin Gwari Funtua highways to save the situation.

However, when Solacebase contacted the Kaduna Police Command Spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jagile said he has not been briefed but promised to find out the situation.