Terrorists on Thursday killed the Vice-Chairman of Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Birnin-Gwari Bm chapter, Mal. Yakubu Muhammad Bugai and three other farmers .
The terrorists, who the locals referred to as bandits also kidnapped over 50 persons in the month of July.
The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU), Kaduna State said the JIBWIS leader was shot at his farm located around the Rema area.
He was later taken to Jibril Mai-Gwari General Hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds on his abdomen and arm but passed on by 7:30 a.m on Thursday.
The Chairman of BEPU, Ishaq Kasai, in a statement issued Saturday, also revealed that large number of locals were also kidnapped on their farms around Sabon-Layi, Kurgi, Yelwa, Tashan-Keji, Shiwaka, Unguwan Danfulani and many more rural communities in western part of Birnin-Gwari who are sharing boundaries with Kamuku and Kuyambana Forests, which are serving as hideouts of the terrorists.
He noted that the terrorists also herd over people’s farms in those areas where in the Sabon-layi Community alone, more than 10 farms, especially those with grown up maize have been cleared deliberately by the terrorists’ cattle.
Kasai added that the terrorists already told the farmers to stop wasting their time going to farm in the area because they will not allow them to harvest and might end up being killed or abducted.
He said: “On Friday 21/7/2023, the bandits invaded Ung. Bawa in Randagi Ward and kidnapped 28 persons including women and children and also killed 1 and shot 4 who are currently receiving medical attention at various health facilities. However, 13 out of the captives have managed to escape from the den.
“On Tuesday, bandits attacked Rafin Zango, around Eka Farm, and kidnapped two persons who were on their way coming back from Birnin-Gwari town heading to Gagumi Community. Also, on Wednesday, they invaded Unguwan Roka of Kakangi Ward, killed 1 person and kidnapped 9.
“On Thursday night, bandits came back to a nearby Community, Unguwan Danfulani, killed one person and kidnapped seven from one family.”
Kasai further revealed that earlier on the same Thursday, the terrorists blocked traders and grain suppliers who were on their way from the western part to the Birnin-Gwari weekly market, saying the terrorists operated for about an hour and kidnapped six persons.
He noted: “We are deeply concerned that farmers continue to be attacked whenever they go to their farms.
“This poses serious danger to this year’s targeted farming outputs as about 70 per cent of farmlands are yet to be accessible. On Wednesday, four locals were kidnapped at their farms at Yelwa Community in Sabon-Layi axis.
“In fact, kidnapping and killing of locals at farms have become rampant in the entire Birnin-Gwari general area. Even today, Saturday, bandits abducted two farmers at Maraban Agyaro area of Gagumi axis. These incidents are just to mention but few”.
The Union decried the killings and abductions of farmers in the Birnin-Gwari general area as it escalates on a daily basis, unchallenged and mostly unreported.
It also appealed to the federal government to facilitate establishment of military detachments in Katakaki, Gagumi, Tashar-Keji and Bugai axis of Western part of Birnin-Gwari where the terrorists Warlords are now using as their operational basis.