Once again, a large number of bandits stormed the Sabon Layi area of Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State on Thursday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of three farmers and the abduction of numerous other farmers and travelers.
A community leader in the area, Sallau Ibrahim reported that the bandits attacked the village around 12 pm, firing their weapons indiscriminately and fatally shooting three farmers. “They killed three farmers: Anas Sabonlayi, Abubakar Dankibiya, and Harisu Unguwar Lemu,” he disclosed.
According to Ibrahim, the attack appears to be a retaliatory response to an ongoing military operation in the troubled communities. In addition to targeting the village, the bandits also attacked travelers heading from the western part of the region to Birnin-Gwari market, where they intended to participate in the weekly Thursday market. During the assault, an unspecified number of traders and travelers were kidnapped en route to the market.
He emphasized that due to the prevailing insecurity, farmers in the area had refrained from working on their farms for the past two weeks. However, on this particular day, they decided to resume their activities and tragically fell victim to the attack and subsequent abduction.
The bodies of the three deceased individuals were laid to rest in Sabonlayi village at around 4:30 pm on Thursday, following Islamic funeral rites.
Confirming the incident, the chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, Kashim Usman Kasai acknowledged the loss of three lives and the abduction of many others. He expressed concern about ascertaining the exact number of individuals currently held captive by the bandits in the forest.
Efforts to reach the state police public relations officer DSP Muhammed Jalige, for a statement were unsuccessful, as his phone was not reachable at the time of filing this report.
