Nine dead as bandits shoot travelers along Kaduna highway

Gunmen suspected to be bandits killed nine travelers, including three children in Zankoro village along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway on Sunday.

It was gathered that the victims were on their way to a wedding ceremony at Doka town in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state when they were attacked by the bandits on Sunday, January 3.

A traveler, who identified himself as Datti, told Daily Trust that he assisted the vigilante in evacuating some of the victims, adding that six persons died on the spot.

The chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Progressives Union (BEPU) Barrister Salisu Haruna, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, January 4, said the bandits also blocked the road on Monday at the same Zankoro at about 9.00 am, shooting sporadically and abducted an unspecified number of people.

“The New Year 2021 has begun in sorrow and tears for the people of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” the statement reads.

“On Sunday, 3rd January, 2021, bandits laid siege on innocent travellers at Zankoro, along dreaded Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway, killing nine people (including three infants) that were on their way for a ceremony at Doka, Birnin-Gwari LGA.

“Similarly, the bandits came out today, Monday, January 4, 2021 at the same Zankoro around 9am, shooting indiscriminately and abducting unspecified number of people and wounding six others that are now receiving treatment at Buruku.

“In the last two weeks, bandits terrorising the people of Birnin Gwari, especially those travelling along Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highways have become intensely aggressive as they continue to kill and abduct innocent citizens unabated.

“There are more than 40 abductees currently at the mercy of the bandits who were kidnapped between December 20, 2020 and Monday January 4, 2021; some of them have been reported

“A total of nine innocent travellers were killed at Zankoro along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway on Sunday, January 3, 2021. A total of 11 people were kidnapped at Dan Kungi village on Sunday January 3, 20

“EPU, therefore, calls on the government to deploy immediate response squad to mount offensive operations along Birnin Gwari, Kaduna and Birnin Gwari-Funtua highways.”