By Wilson Adekumola
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly killed three farmers, while scores of other farmers and travellers were abducted and taken into the forest as they stormed Sanbon Layi area of Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State on Thursday afternoon.
A community leader in the area, who identified herself as Sallau Ibrahim said the bandits stormed the village around 12pm shooting sporadically and in the process killed three farmers.
“They killed 3 farmers namely Anas Sabonlayi, Abubakar Dankibiya, and Harisu Unguwar Lemu” he disclosed.
He said the attack was more of a reprisal following military operation that is currently taking place in the troubled communities.
Reports revealed that the bandits after atormeimg the community, also attacked travellers who were coming from the western part of the state to Birnin-Gwari market to observe the weekly Thursday’s market in the town and kidnapped an unspecified number of traders/travellers on their way to the market.
He stated, “For about two weeks now, the farmers didn’t go to farm in the area. Today they decided to go they and were attacked and kidnapped.”
It was learnt that the three deceased persons were buried in Sabonlayi village around 4:30pm on Thursday according to Islamic rites.
When contacted for reaction, the chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, Kashim Usman Kasai confirmed the incident, saying, ” they killed three people. Many were abducted. We are trying to know how many are in the forest with the bandits”.
The State police Public Relation Officer DSP Muhammed Jalige, has commented on the incident as effort to reach him was not successful as his phone was not reachable up to the time of filing this report.
