The Kaduna State government on Monday confirmed the killing of bandits during an aerial mission over Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi and Chikun local government areas buy troops.
Confirming the reports, on Monday, Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State said platforms conducted armed air reconnaissance over locations in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi and Chikun local government areas, where the bandits were neutralised.
“According to operational feedback, bandits were sighted at a location 6km west of Anaba, which was then engaged with rockets. After the strike, fleeing bandits were mopped up with cannons.
“Other locations were reported calm with no suspicious activity, such as Rikau, Galadimawa, Kidandan and Yadi.
Man shot dead at Benue market
Terrorists have killed 21 persons in Igabi and Kajuru local councils of Kaduna State. However, the military also caused havoc on the side of the bandits by air raid, which neutralised the gunmen in their camps.
In an update on the security situation in Kaduna yesterday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, stated: “In Igabi local council, armed bandits barricaded the Birnin Yero-Tami road and killed one Hussaini Dari. One Dahiru Saidu was left injured, and is now receiving treatment in a hospital.
“At Gwada village in Igabi, an attack by gunmen left Yahuza Sale and Garba Sule dead. In another incident, armed bandits invaded Ungwan Kure, and killed two others. They also attacked Amawan Dadi Rugan Jauru settlements. A resident identified simply as Likita was shot dead.”
Analysts told the
Daily Trust that unless the forests are ransacked, reclaimed and properly guarded, authorities would never get it right in terms of securing the people.
Kamuku, Kuduru: Birnin Gwari’s deadly forests
What started as local criminality and cattle rustling around communities surrounding large forests in Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari and Giwa local government areas have over the years snowballed into full banditry and terrorism that have led to the killing of hundreds of villagers while thousands have been displaced. Criminals in Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari and Giwa LGAs have over the years found shield within the Kamuku and Kuduru forests.
Daily Trust gathered that not much beyond the name and reputation is known about Malam Abba who, residents say, resides within the enclave of Kuduru forests, west of Birnin Gwari LGA. The forest is said to share boundaries with Chikun, Igabi and Giwa local government areas; Kaduna’s most notorious bandit hideouts. While Malam Abba, his lieutenants and several other bandits call Kuduru forest home, several other criminals lay low in the larger Kamuku National Park which crisscrosses five northern states of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara and Kebbi states. With a large chunk of Kamuku situated within western boundaries of Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari LGA, surrounding communities as well as the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road and Kaduna-Abuja road have in recent times become some of the most dangerous routes in northern Nigeria.
By John Shiklam
Some bandits were said to have killed three in separate attacks in Giwa and Zango-Kataf Local Government Areas of Kaduna, while three persons were left injured.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwa, in an official statement, said bandits raided some locals joints at Wawan Rafi village, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area where they killed one John Isah while injuring three other persons.
The commissioner gave the names of those injured by the rampaging bandits as Fidelix Jacob, Abraham Isah and Philemon Adamu.
Aruwa also said security operatives recovered two AK-47 rifles with over 40 rounds of ammunition from two persons in the area.