Bandits abducted scores of travellers and students along Birnin-Gwari- Kaduna highway in the early hours of Tuesday morning, May 31.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) Idris Saidu, disclosed this in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Saidu said the abducted students were billed to write examinations for admission into the School of Health, Kaduna State University (Makarfi campus).
According to the statement, the bandits laid sieged on three different locations on the highway forcing motorists to make a u-turn.
Those who were not lucky fell into the trap set by the bandits and were subsequently abducted.
One of BEPU officials who was one of the victims that escaped, Abubakar Haruna Babajo, said “eight vehicles were set ablaze by the bandits after abducting all the passengers. We were able to escape by Allah’s will,”
BEPU advised intending travellers to either suspend their journey or use other possible alternative routes as a large number of bandits are currently stationed on the road at about three different locations.
“This advice should not be taken for granted for the security of lives and properties of our people.” the statement read.
The statement disclosed that through the intervention of Malam Mu’azu Idris, the school authority has agreed to postpone the exams indefinitely.
The chairman of Birnin-Gwati Vanguards for Security and Good Governance, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagwari, also confirmed the abduction in a statement.
“Today 31st May, 2022, terrorists along Birnin-Gwari- Kaduna highway intercepted a convoy of motorists with security escorts between Kuriga and Manini near Udawa and prey on unspecified number of people that were abducted into the bush.
“In the last four days terrorists had lay siege on motorists on Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway, abducting as well as killing and wounded many innocent citizens, yet our people are reduced to silence mode with no reportage of the ugly situation nor any move by the authorities to show concerned on the deteriorating security around Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway.
“In the sad event today, eight vehicles were set ablaze by the terrorists, while unaccounted number of innocent motorists mostly women and Children were waylaid into the bush by the terrorists for ransom.
It is evidently, clear, that, unholy marriage of bandits and Ansaru ( Boko Haram) has declared a total war on our people, yet the political will by the authorities to honour their oaths of office to protect Lives and Property of our citizens remains a mirage.
“While politicians are engaged on their mission to clinch power comes Twenty-twenty-three, none of the gladiators seeking for elections has any agenda of emancipating our people from the bondage of terrorists and miscreants. Moreso, none of this politicians deem it fit to visit Birnin-Gwari to either see delegates, but rather called delegates to Kaduna for consultations.
“We had always appreciate efforts of security personnel in their passion to curtailed the precarious Insecurity bedeviling Birnin-Gwari general area. But, our people has reach a point of no return, hence the need for the people of Birnin-Gwari and communities along the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway to halt with immediate effect traveling on this notorious highway from tomorrow till security situation improves.