Armed Bandits numbering about 200 on Motorcycles wielding sophisticated weapons targeted and attacked Damari town of Kazage Ward in the Eastern Part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attack was however reported to have been repelled by members of the Ansaru terrorist group.
Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) confirmed the development in a statement it issued Friday evening, saying that, “the attack took place around 5:00 pm on Wednesday 13th July 2022 while Ansaru members were right inside the town preaching to locals.”
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According to BEPU in the statement signed by its Chairman, Ishaq Usman Kasai, “On hearing the sporadic gunshots from the Bandits the Ansaru members moved towards them and started exchanging fire. They clashed for about an hour. The Ansaru members who were also heavily armed overpowered the bandits which made them retreat and run away.
“During the clash, some damages were made to the town; one shop was burnt, two vehicles were burnt, one private hospital was burnt, two locals (labourers) were also killed by the armed bandits on their way from the farm while the bandits were running away to the forest.
“The Private hospital was burnt accidentally as a result of the fire spread from the second vehicle burnt nearby.
“As a result of this, most of the community members appreciate and hail the Ansaru members for defending the town from the bandits’ attack without which they believe that the situation could have been more damaging.
“Hundreds of persons including women and children migrated from the town as a result of the attack.
“The attack was a very organized one because the armed bandits knew that the Ansaru members are covering the town. Hence, it was countered by the Ansaru members,” BEPU said.
It however said that the casualty figure between the armed bandits and the Ansaru members was not confirmed.
BEPU also reiterated that the Ansaru members have continued to preach and administer Shari’a Justice to locals and also advise them to acquire arms to defend themselves against enemies as well as fight Government in order to establish what they refer to as Islamic State.
