Kaduna: Bandits declare war on Birnin Gwari, kidnap scores

*Demand N1m for each victim, torchlight, foodstuff

ldibia Gabriel, Kaduna

Bandits have reportedly declared war on the innocent citizens in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, according to latest reports from victims’ relations and families.

Only between Sunday and Monday, an uncountable number of people have been abducted by the bandits from the area known as Jangari Bagoma community.

While 36 were kidnapped on Sunday morning, the number of those kidnapped on Monday morning while in their farms farming are yet to be ascertained or identified.

Speaking to our correspondent on the phone on Monday, a community volunteer, who pleaded anonymity, lamented that victims of the kidnapping incident, mostly women and children, had become a daily occurrence in their council area.

According to the resident source, who is dependable and lives together with a man whose two wives and four children were among the kidnapped victims, explained that the terrorists abducted and raped their children and wives freely on daily basis unchallenged.

He said: “Jangari Bagoma community is about 2- 3 Kilometers from B/Gwari town. The number of those kidnapped today (Monday) in the area around 10 -11am are yet to be known.

“They were picked up while on their farms. A very big farmland where more than 1000 people are having their farms there. Those who escaped are the ones who came to inform us.

“They’re demanding N1 million for each victim. They kidnapped 2 of my neighbours’ wives and 4 of his children, making six. I’m standing with him to speak to you”.

He also said that “they also demanded for torchlight and foodstuffs from him for the one of today’s (Monday’s) kidnapping this morning for his family to bring for them in the bush.

According to him, there are military and other security formations in Grinin Gwari but had always said they’re waiting for directives from the top to take action.

We’ve security formations – Air Force, Military, Mopol, Police and Vigilantes, unfortunately we the community cannot force them to go and work by all means.

“They’re always saying they’re waiting for directives from the top. Even though they’re here in town and heard everything happening.

“In the night, for instance, the Air force has an alarm machine. When bandits or Boko Haram or any criminals are entering the town, they’ll know when the alarm is shouting, but will not go and attack them even now that bandits have been declared terrorists”, he said.

He further said that “Even when they have been declared terrorists, the security would be waiting for directives from the top.

We met state government officials with our issues that this is the situation we’re in. They even complained to us that whatever the security people want they provide it for them.

“But yet they’re always telling them this and that. That is what they’re telling us at the local government level too, that they’re supporting the security but can’t force them or tell them to go and fight with bandits.

“They’ll tell you they’re waiting for an intelligence report, this or that. That’s why we’re having serious problems with the federal government.

Our people used to call Internal Security and Home Affairs commissioner, Mr Samuel Aruwan and explain to him. So I don’t know the relationship between them.

“Security issues are difficult and money plays a vital role. Instead of protecting the lives and properties of people, they’re always talking about money, money and money”.

He also said even though security has confronted them before on this farm area, nobody went there to try to recover the victims anymore.

“I’m nearer to the person who the bandits kidnapped six of his family members. The bandits asked him to bring six million naira for the 6 people. Today (Monday), it happened around 10-11am.

“Let me give you information about B/Gwari – Kaduna road. It’s now a death trap, a dangerous way.

“The story of today is all over B/Gwari town. On a daily basis people are being kidnapped.

“I left Kaduna yesterday (Sunday). Now I’m at B/Gwari. If you pass Kudawa, there’s a town called Udawa, where we have military formation.

There you have one armour tank, a Hilux security van used in escorting more than 50-60 vehicles to Burukun, the deadly area of the road. ‘Sometimes the bandits come out, hijack vehicles and attack the security, kidnapping and killing some.

“These things happen almost on a daily basis. Is a federal highway to B/Gwari, Niger and other states.

“They’ve already rustled all their cattle in B/Gwari west. They pay the bandits up to N100 million to farm, and yet don’t allow the people to do farming with kidnapping.

“Government had all the news but did nothing much. We keep praying as our last hope. Nobody is following the Funtua road because it is about 100km between B/Gawri and Katsina.

“There are so many kidnappings taken place there on the road, maltreating and raping their women and children. There is also Boko Haram in some parts of B/Gwari town too”, he lamented.