Gunmen suspected to be members of the Ansaru and Boko Haram terrorist groups, have reportedly waylaid a convoy of vehicles with security escorts along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road, setting eight vehicles ablaze and abducting dozens of travellers.
An association, Birnin-Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance disclosed to journalists saying that, the Tuesday morning attack was the fourth in a series, as the terrorists had in the last four days laid siege of the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway, killing and kidnapping travellers.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Muhammad Jalige could not immediately confirm the incident.
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He said, “I will contact the Area Commander in charge of the area and get back to you please,”.
In a statement confirming the attack, Chairman of Birnin-Gwari Vanguards, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagwari said, the incident happened between Kuriga and Manini near Udawa.
According to Nagwari, “It is evident, clear, that, unholy marriage of bandits and Ansaru ( Boko Haram) has declared a total war on our people, yet the political will by the authorities to honour their oaths of office to Protect Lives and Property of our citizens remains a mirage.
“Today 31st May 2022, terrorists along Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway intercepted a convoy of motorists with security escorts between Kuriga and Manini near Udawa and prey on an unspecified number of people that were abducted into the bush.
“In the last four days terrorists had lay siege on motorists on Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway, abducting as well as killing and wounded many innocent citizens, yet our people have reduced to silence mode with no reportage of the ugly situation nor any move by the authorities to show concerned on the deteriorating security around Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway.
“In the sad event today, eight vehicles were set ablaze by the terrorists, while an unaccounted number of innocent motorists mostly women and Children were waylaid into the bush by the terrorists for ransom.
“While politicians are engaged on their mission to clinch power comes Twenty-twenty-three, none of the gladiators seeking for elections has any agenda of emancipating our people from the bondage of terrorists and miscreants. Moreso, none of these politicians deem it fit to visit Birnin-Gwari to either see delegates, but rather called delegates to Kaduna for consultations.
“We had always appreciated efforts of security personnel in their passion to curtailed the precarious Insecurity bedevilling Birnin-Gwari general area. But, our people have reached a point of no return, hence the need for the people of Birnin-Gwari and communities along the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway to halt with immediate effect travelling on this notorious highway from tomorrow till the security situation improves.
“This organization hereby advise all our citizens to exercise maximum restraint and obey all rules of the land and seclude themselves in prayers for Allah’s intervention to deal with the terrorists and their collaborators within our communities. Equally, we pray for the safe return of our people mostly women and children that were abducted.
“We are citizens of this country and not prodigal sons that were left wondering, like “Sheep’s without Shepherd”. Enough is Enough,” Nagwari said.
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