Bandits launched another devastating attack on Sunday night, targeting the villages of Kwaga and Ungwan Zako in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The assailants set fire to harvested maize on six different farms, inciting outrage and despair among the local communities.
The attack occurred just 48 hours after a peace meeting was organized with bandits in Birnin-Gwari, led by cleric Sheik Assadus Sunnah, in an attempt to restore harmony in the area. However, the peace efforts were shattered by the latest assault, leaving villagers reeling from their losses.
According to residents, “The bandits have set multiple farms ablaze around Zako near Kwaga, along the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway,” with fires consuming vast hectares of maize. One farmer, Malam Tanko, who owns six hectares in Kwaga, said he was left “helpless and totally confused” by the destruction of his livelihood.
Tanko warned that repeated attacks on local farms pose a serious threat to food security in Birnin-Gwari, especially with the maize harvest season approaching. “The destruction of our crops will have far-reaching consequences,” he said. “We rely heavily on our farms for our livelihood, and if the bandits continue this destruction, we will be left with nothing. We urge the government to take immediate action to secure our communities and protect our farms.”
For many in Birnin-Gwari, this attack is only the latest in a series of violent incidents that have taken lives, destroyed property, and devastated families. “We are tired of living in fear,” another resident said, calling for peace and security.
At the time of this report, the Kaduna State government had yet to issue an official statement. Efforts to contact the state police’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, were also unsuccessful.
However, Ishaq Usman Kasai, Chairman of the Birnin Gwari-Niger Interboundaries Communities Association, confirmed the attack and identified the perpetrators as members of the notorious group led by Yellow Jamboros, which has long plagued the region. Kasai called on the Federal Government to work with state authorities to develop a cohesive national strategy to tackle banditry and ensure citizens’ safety.
