Terrorists were said to have blocked the Birnin-Gwari to Funtua road, in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing no fewer than two including a commercial driver travelling along the road while scores were abducted.
This was after the General Officer Commanding, One Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, led troops on an onslaught of terrorists in the Birnin-Gwari general areas on Wednesday 31st August 2022.
However, the Chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union, Ishaq Kasai, said on Monday, that the terrorists relocated to the Birnin-Gwari to Funtua road where they blocked the area and killed a commercial driver and abducted several travelers.
According to him, the road is still inaccessible by travellers. Insecurity is worsening along Birnin-Gwari to Funtua road and in many communities, particularly in the Eastern part of the Local Government.
He said that most communities along that road such as Kwasa-kwasa, Marabar Kwasa-kwasa, Nacibi, Farin Ruwa among others, were being deserted for fear of any eventuality.
He added, “Again, the Armed bandits attacked Damari community on Tuesday 3rd September 2022 by 10:00 pm where one person was killed and shops looted. This came after the people who were sacked by armed bandits earlier in August have started returning to the community.
“Layin Lasan Community was also attacked by the same armed bandits in the evening on Sunday 4th September 2022 where scores of residents were kidnapped and moved to neighbouring forests. Various communities are continued to be attacked by armed bandits silently and unreported.”
Kasai, therefore, said there was need for mobilization of troops to the Western part of Birnin-Gwari, particularly in the Kakangi and Randagi axis which shares boundaries with Zamfara and Niger States.
While appreciating and commending the renewed effort of the Government and the gallant troops, the BEPU chairman, appealed for an extension of the operation to the terrorists’ hideouts in the forests for restoration of peace for people to live in their communities without fear and intimidation.
He noted that this was also necessary in order to provide opportunity for conduct of 2023 general elections in the area and for the people to exercise their election franchise.
He said, “The Union witnessed that the new General Officer Commandant (GOC) of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army Kaduna personally led a team of gallant troops and went on ground surveillance on Wednesday 31st August 2022 through Kaduna to Birnin-Gwari and Birnin-Gwari to Funtua roads respectively where some successes were recorded including neutralizing and arresting of some bandits who were intercepted in some communities around the roads.
“The effort is commendable and we sincerely appreciate and commend the Government and the Nigerian troops for this achievement and renewed move in combating insecurity in the area.
“It gladdens the Union to observe that more security personnel are mobilized around Kaduna to Birnin-Gwari road. This is significantly reducing tension and is a welcomed move towards addressing the problem of persistent attacks on travellers on the Birnin-Gwari to Kaduna road.
“Regrettably, BEPU observes that the Armed bandits blocked Birnin-Gwari to Funtua road following the earlier surveillance by the GOC and his team. The bandits blocked the road since Thursday, 1st September, 2022 which coincides with Birnin-Gwari Market Day, killed a commercial driver and kidnapped scores of travellers who are yet to be freed. The road is still a no-transit zone.”
