Gunmen suspected to be members of the Ansaru terrorist group on Tuesday attacked motorists along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Highway, abducting many passengers during the operation.
Sending an SOS audio, a Birnin Gwari resident who escaped the attack, Haruna Abubakar, said the terrorists also burnt down about eight vehicles, including a truck loaded with foodstuff.
Mr Abubakar who claimed to be a KASTLEA operative added that the terrorists had been operating along the road for over a week without security measures.
While calling on the Federal Government to come to their rescue, Mr Abubakar feared that if nothing is done, Birnin-Gwari town will be completely displaced by the marauding terrorists.
Confirming the attack, the Birnin-Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance, in a statement on Tuesday said the incident happened between Kuriga and Manini near Udawa.
The statement, signed by its chairman Ibrahim Abubakar-Nagwari, advised motorists to stop plying the road until the security situation improves.
The statement said: “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.
“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 abducted an unspecified number of people.
“In the last four days, terrorists had laid siege to Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway, abducting as well as killing and injuring many innocent citizens, yet the authories did not make any move to show concern on the deteriorating security around Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway.
“In the sad event today [Tuesday], eight vehicles were set ablaze by the terrorists, while an unaccounted number of innocent motorists mostly women and children were abducted by the terrorists for ransom.
“While politicians are engaged on their mission to clinch power comes 2023, none of the gladiators seeking elections has any agenda of emancipating our people from the bondage of terrorists and miscreants.
“More so, none of these politicians deem it fit to visit Birnin-Gwari to either see delegates, but rather called delegates to Kaduna for consultations.
“We had always appreciated efforts of security personnel in their passion to curtail the precarious insecurity bedeviling Birnin-Gwari general area.
“But, our people have reached 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.”
