In the early hours of Tuesday, a tragic incident unfolded in Sabon Layi, Kakangi ward, within the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as bandits targeted a local mosque.
During the early morning prayers at around 5 am, the assailants took the lives of the Imam and one worshipper, identified as Kabir, while two others, Bilya Mairabo and Ashiru Mairabo, were left with various degrees of injuries. They are currently under medical care at the Jibrin Maigwari General Hospital in Birnin-Gwari.
The disturbing reality is that these attacks have become a daily occurrence in Birnin-Gwari, with bandits targeting and abducting residents, particularly farmers.
The situation is even more dire along the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway, where travelers and other road users live in constant fear of such incidents.
Zubair AbduRrauf, a community leader known as Danmasanin of Birnin-Gwari, described the grim situation, stating,
“We are in a precarious situation in Birnin-Gwari. Even on the Kaduna – Birnin-Gwari highway, people are being escorted by either security personnel or the vigilante. Two days ago, the bandits killed two people coming back from Kaduna.
“The bandits’ attack is on a daily basis. Security personnel are really trying their best to see that the attacks are being curtailed, but we need a change of strategy from them.”
As of the time of this report, there has been no official confirmation from either the state government or the state police command regarding the incident. The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, said,
“I am driving and when I stop, I will get back to you.”
| Punch Newspaper
