Bandits have kidnapped three farmers and killed another in Kurgin Gabas community, in the western part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
Chairman of the Birnin Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) Ishaq Usman Kasai, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, September 18, 2022.
According to him, on Thursday, September 15, 2022, armed bandits kidnapped the three victims at their farms.
He said the bandits also stormed the same community on Friday, snatched motorcycle (Bajaj Model) and killed the owner identified as Bala Balansi instantly before going back to the forest.
Kasai also said bandits have since September 1 blocked the Birnin-Gwari-Funtua Highway and confiscated over 30 vehicles, including big trucks.
Mr Kasai also said that many travellers abducted on September 1 were yet to be released.
“Another disturbing scenario is that the bandits have carted away all the goods contained in the trapped vehicles and people were forced to pay huge amounts of money ranging from N300,000 to N1 million in order to retrieve their trapped vehicles,” he lamented, adding that the bandits charged the vehicle owners depending on the size and nature of the vehicle.
“BEPU is therefore appealing for mobilisation of troops to ensure opening of Birnin-Gwari-Funtua Road and for retrieval of the trapped vehicles unconditionally.” he added.
The chairman said BEPU believed 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 LGA.
He said BEPU acknowledged that the security level at Birnin-Gwari to Kaduna Highway has improved following the earlier visit by GOC of 1 Div Kaduna and subsequent mobilization of troops as well as occasional aerial surveillance along the road by security agencies.
