Bandits Kill 7, Abduct 50 In Plateau, Kaduna

No fewer than seven persons were killed in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State by gunmen suspected to be armed bandits.

The national publicity secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the latest killings in Jos South LGA to newsmen yesterday.

This development has created so much tension in the community, he added.

LEADERSHIP reports that the killing is coming less than 24 hours after 18 other persons lost their lives during a clash between bandits and members of vigilante group Pinau community in the Wase Council Area of the State on Saturday.

Similarly, the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union (BEPU) has disclosed that bandits in Damari community of Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State have abducted over 50 persons within the past 72 hours, following the withdrawal of Ansaru a splinter group of Boko Haram from the area.

A statement issued and made available to newsmen in Kaduna by the chairman, BEPU, Ishaq Usman Kasai, said the sad event took place in Damari town of Kazage Ward in the Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

According to the statement, “As at yesterday (Saturday), Bandits encircled Damari and abducted about 50 people, shortly before and after troops from Military field-base from Dogon-Dawa went to the town and escorted some remnants of the residents who were willing to move to comfort zones in neighbouring communities and even to as far away Zaria.

“The most worrisome situation is where a pregnant woman was running alongside others for safety and could not meet up with the pace of the fleeing groups, she fell and delivered a baby boy but unfortunately, both the mother and the baby lost their lives instantly”.

“Damari is considered the largest town in the entire Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari and with this worrisome development, about 20 thousand persons including Women and Children are rendered internally displaced (IDPs).

“Even today (Sunday), the bandits returned to the town unchallenged, burnt a vehicle, kidnapped scores, intercepted and maltreated people, a serious development that reflects the level of serious insecurity situation facing our community.

“These calamitous atrocities of bandits have made Damari, the agrarian Community that yearly produced over 600 tonnes of maize grains abandoned their ancestral homes and farms for safety”.

He said BEPU is highly concerned about the ugly situation of the citizens of Birnin-Gwari LGA particularly those in the local communities where despite all efforts to draw the attention of higher authorities for action as entails in their constitutional responsibilities have failed.