Victims worse hit by the rampaging bandits terrorizing communities located along Kaduna-Niger Highway have cried out to the Senate for help.
They called on the Senate to compel security agencies to fish out bad eggs within their midst that give out information to the armed bandits attacking them and other travellers. The group, under the aegis of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, led by Nadir Khalid its Vice Chairman, made this appeal when they paid a courtesy call on Senator representing Kaduna Central, Distinguished Senator Shehu Sani, at his residence in Kaduna on Tuesday April 23, 2019.
“Informants are giving out information to the bandits. Government should fish out the informants as that would go a long way in checking their activities,” they appealed.
They explained that Birnin Gwari was facing serious security problems, which they itemised in letter and are handing over to Distinguished Senator Shehu Sani whom they described as “the voice of the voiceless.”
“Like I said, our letter includes problems of armed banditry and kidnapping, crippling our economy.
“We had to look for way, and get vigilante to escort us before we were able to travel to Kaduna. More than 30 associations have delegated chairman and secretary and are present here.
“We demand more troops to work in sincerity. People of Kuriga in Chikun LGA, have migrated to Birnin Gwari. They have received attacks nine times.
“Without people in villages around the road who are been sacked by the bandits, people cannot travel,” they said.
They said that there was the need to strengthen the vigilante, pay them salaries to do this job.
“They are risking their lives. Those who lost lives, there is no condolence message. “There is also need to monitor the security men on patrol. By 3pm, they all go away and bandits can come to the road and do as they like.
“There is need to empower the army to cover the vast forests in Birnin Gwari. The forest is too large and we have advised the government to allow our people to farm to reduce the forest,” they stressed.
The group further suggested the use of technology to track down the bandits and criminals.
“The vigilante need to work, but they need gadgets to work. They are ready to meet the hoodlums in the camp. Unlike the police, they are ready to go after them. When the bandits completely wipe out villages, they will face the Birnin Gwari town and other cities,” they warned.
Explaining further, they said that Birnin Gwari serves as a hideout for the bandits and its forest is linked to several states like Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto and Katsina.
They appealed that the ongoing military onslaught against bandits in Zamfara and Katsina states be extended to Birnin Gwari.
They also appealed fir the establishment of camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Birnin Gwari and Chikun local government areas.
“There is the need to cater for IDPs. As we were coming, we saw many people leaving Kuriga located in Chikun LGA in droves as a result of repeated attacks.
“They are farmers and not educated, there is need for establishment of IDP camp for the victims of attacks in Chikun and Birnin Gwari,” they explained.
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