In the early hours of Tuesday morning, May 31, bandits kidnapped scores of travelers and students along the Birnin-Gwari- Kaduna highway.
Idris Saidu the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), revealed this in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday in Kaduna.
He said the kidnapped students were billed to write examinations for admission into the School of Health, Kaduna State University (Makarfi campus).
According to the statement, the bandits set siege on three different locations on the highway forcing motorists to make a u-turn.
Those who were not lucky fell into the trap set by the bandits and were subsequently abducted.
Abubakar Haruna Babajo one of the BEPU officials was one of the victims that escaped “eight vehicles were set ablaze by the bandits after abducting all the passengers. We were able to escape by Allah’s will,”
BEPU advised intending travelers to either suspend their journey or use other possible alternative routes as a large number of bandits are currently stationed on the road at about three different locations.
The statement quoted, “This advice should not be taken for granted for the security of lives and properties of our people”.
The statement revealed that through the intervention of Malam Mu’azu Idris, the school authority has agreed to postpone the exams indefinitely.
The chairman of Birnin-Gwati Vanguards for Security and Good Governance, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagwari, also confirmed the kidnap in a statement.
He stated, “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 the unaccounted number of innocent motorists mostly women and Children were waylaid into the bush by the terrorists for ransom.
It is evident, clear, that, the unholy marriage of bandits and Ansaru ( Boko Haram) has declared a total war on our people, yet the political will by the authorities to honor their oaths of office to Protect the Lives and Property of our citizens remains a mirage.
“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 bedeviling 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 traveling on this notorious highway from tomorrow till the security situation improves.
“This organization hereby advises 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 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”.
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