Bandits have reportedly invaded Birnin-Gwari emirate in Kaduna State, where they killed farmers, including an Islamic leader, and kidnapped scores.
This was revealed in a statement by the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU).
According to the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU), “Vice-Chairman of Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Birnin-Gwari Branch, Malam Yakubu Muhammad Bugai, and three other farmers were killed by the murderous armed bandits who have been unleashing terror in the area.”
The Chairman of the Union, Ishaq Usman Kasai, stated that “the JIBWIS Leader was shot on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at his farm located around Rema area and was later evaluated and taken to Jibril Mai-Gwari General Hospital, sustaining gunshots on his abdomen and arm. Regrettably, he passed on by 7:30 a.m. the following day (27/7/2023).”
Mal Yakubu Bugai was said to be “a strong pillar, pioneer member, and also the Vice-Chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Orphans Foundation, which is an organization devoted to taking care of thousands of Orphans left behind by mostly victims of armed banditry in the security-ravaged area”.
The chairman also stated that bandits, in a different attack, invaded several other communities “around Sabon-Layi, Kurgi, Yelwa, Tashan-Keji, Shiwaka, Unguwan Danfulani, and many more rural Communities in the western part of Birnin-Gwari who are sharing boundaries with Kamuku and Kuyambana Forests, which are serving as hideouts of the Bandits, and a large number of locals were kidnapped at their farms. In fact, the situation is so rampant and complex that one cannot choose among the incidents to report.”
He noted that “The bandits also herd over people’s farms in those areas where, in the Sabon-layi Community alone, more than 10 farms (especially those with grown-up maize) have been cleared deliberately by the bandits’ cattle. In fact, the Bandits told the farmers to stop wasting their time going to farm in the area because even if they did, they would not allow them to harvest and they may end up being killed or abducted.
“On Friday, July 21, 2023, the bandits invaded Unguwan Bawa in Randagi Ward and kidnapped 28 persons, including women and children, and also killed 1 and shot 4 who are currently receiving medical attention at various health facilities. However, 13 of the captives have managed to escape from the den.
“On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the bandits attacked Rafin Zango, around Eka Farm, and kidnapped two persons who were on their way back from Birnin-Gwari town, heading to Gagumi Community. Also, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, they invaded Unguwan Roka of Kakangi Ward, killed 1 person, and kidnapped 9. On Thursday night (27/7/2023), the bandits came back to a nearby Community, Unguwan Danfulani, killed 1 person, and kidnapped 7 from one family.
“Earlier on the same Thursday, July 27, 2023, the bandits blocked traders and grain suppliers who were on their way from the Western part to the Birnin-Gwari weekly Market. The bandits operated for about an hour and kidnapped six people.”
He raised concerns that the frequent attacks on farmers pose a serious threat to the year’s targeted farming output.
“We are deeply concerned that farmers continue to be attacked whenever they go to their farms. This poses a serious danger to this year’s targeted farming outputs, as about 70% of farmlands are yet to be accessible. On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, four locals were kidnapped at their farms at Yelwa Community in the Sabon-Layi axis.
“In fact, kidnappings and killings of locals at farms have become rampant in the entire Birnin-Gwari general area. Even today, Saturday, the bandits abducted two farmers at the Maraban Agyaro area of the Gagumi axis. These incidences are just to mention a few.”
Kasai also noted that the killings in the community have remained “unchallenged and unreported”.
“BEPU is deeply concerned that the killings and abductions of farmers in the Birnin-Gwari general area have continued to escalate daily, unchallenged and unreported,” he said.
“Given the situation, BEPU appreciates the determination of the new administration and the effort of the security agencies toward addressing the problem.
“The Union, however, appeals to the Federal Government to facilitate the establishment of military detachments in Katakaki. Gagumi, Tashar-Keji, and Bugai axis of the Western part of Birnin-Gwari are now used as their operational basis and are continuously terrorizing the Birnin-Gwari general area,” he added.
He called on the government to reintroduce the Mobile Police Unit in strategic locations in the Local government area.
“Equally important, there is a need for the restoration of the mobile police unit in Damari Community in the eastern part of the Local government, where bandits are using it as a route to attack many Communities in the area.”
“The victims of Armed banditry continue to die due to poor medical attention as a result of inadequate staffing and equipment in the Jibril Mai-Gwari General Hospital. There is only one Medical Doctor in the entire Hospital.
“This is by far not proportionate to the population. On this note, BEPU appeals to the Kaduna State Government to post more health personnel or recruit indigenous Medical Doctors who would be managing the Hospital as victims of armed banditry continue to die due to insufficient primary medical attention,” he said.
