There are indications that the military operations in the Northwest is yielding fruits as bandits are running shelter smelter for their lives in all directions especially from Zamfara forests.
The most recent report shows the movement of persons and groups suspected to be bandits around Birnin Gwari town, headquarters of Birnin Gwari Local Government in Kaduna State. The criminals were said to be coming from the Zamfara State axis. Kaduna and Zamfara states share boarder and their residents are worst victims of banditry in Nigeria
The dispersing of bandits from Zanfara was the fall out of the massive and sustained attacks on them by the military and other sister security operatives.
The relocation of the bandits from Zamfara to Birnin Gwari is raising fear amongst residents and causing panic
A traditional title holder in Birnin Gwari Emirate, Dan Masanin Birnin-Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Abdurra’uf, former Managing Director of Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), alleged that fear gripped the people, as the fleeing terrorists became a regular sight in communities bordering Birnin-Gwari.
He said: “There were reports by the locals that they were in the vast forest of Birnin-Gwari, particularly Kudaru forest, and the terrorists are closing in on Birnin-Gwari main town.
“This is because, right now, the Government Science Secondary School, Birnin-Gwari, which was renamed Jibril Mai Gwari Science Secondary School, just close to the field base of the Army, was closed down for one week due to fear of attacks by the terrorists.”
He said the situation is taking a dangerous dimension as farmers cannot access their farms anymore due to the activities of terrorists.
“From Birnin-Gwari town, on your way to Kaduna, the terrorists have closed in. They are less than a kilometre to the main town, as they have passed Unguwan Shekarau.
“The terrorists were seen around Health Technology, a private community health outfit in Birnin-Gwari. They were also seen around Low-Cost Housing area, along Birnin-Gwari Kaduna highway. The Low-Cost is just a kilometre from Birnino-Gwari,” he added.
On Wednesday evening, locals in hamlets along the Zamfara/Kaduna border towns said they saw the fleeing bandits in their numbers, wielding dangerous weapons.
A resident of Damari village was quoted saying: “They have been arriving at the nearby Kudaru Forest since Tuesday. When the terrorists were seen entering the main town, people started to flee.
But the Kaduna State Police Command has assured the residents of its readiness to protect them The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mohammed Jalige, said the command would protect the villagers and their property, adding that the fleeing bandits would not be allowed to operate
