Kaduna: Bandits Kill Islamic Cleric, 6 Farmers, Abduct 40 Others

According to the chairman of Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union, Ishaq Usman Kasai, in a statement issued on Saturday, he said the hoodlums also abducted 40 farmers.

At least six farmers including the Vice-Chairman of the Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus-Sunnah, Mallam Yakubu Muhammad Bugai have been killed by terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to the chairman of Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union, Ishaq Usman Kasai, in a statement issued on Saturday, he said the hoodlums also abducted 40 farmers.

Kasai explained that the Islamic cleric was shot on Wednesday at his farmland located around the Rema area and was later evacuated and taken to Jibril Mai-Gwari General Hospital sustaining gunshots on his abdomen and arm.
Regrettably, he added, the Islamic cleric died at about 7.30pm the following day.

“Until his murder, Mal Yakubu Bugai was a strong pillar, pioneer member, and also the Vice-Chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Orphans Foundation, which is an organization devoted to taking care of thousands of Orphans left behind by mostly victims of armed banditry in the security ravaged area,” he said.

Similarly, the BEPU boss continued that the bandits abducted scores of locals around the Kuyambana Forest which served as hideouts for the hoodlums.

He expressed concern over the continued killing, and kidnapping of farmers by the bandits while declaring that 70 percent of farmers in the area had yet to access their farmlands as a result of the activities of the bandits.

“We are deeply concerned that farmers continued to be attacked whenever they go to their farms. This poses a serious danger to this year’s targeted farming outputs as about 70% of farmlands are yet to be accessible. On Wednesday 26/7/2023, four locals were kidnapped at their farms at Yelwa Community in Sabon-Layi axis.

“In fact, kidnapping and killings of locals at farms have become rampant in the entire Birnin-Gwari general area. Even today Saturday, the bandits abducted two farmers at the Maraban Agyaro area of the Gagumi axis. These incidences are just to mention but few.

“BEPU is deeply concerned that the killings and abductions of farmers in the Birnin-Gwari general area have continued to escalate on a daily basis, unchallenged and unreported.”