Residents of Old Kuyello village, located in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, had to leave their homes due to a clash between bandits and Ansaru militants. The conflict escalated after bandits took control of the community last Sunday around 3 pm.
According to local sources, about five days prior to the incident, bandits ambushed Ansaru militants operating in Old Kuyello, resulting in the death of five militants.
This forced the Ansaru militants to retreat into the forest, allowing the bandits to seize the village and plunder the locals’ food supplies.
Hadi Kuyello, a resident and community leader, confirmed the situation, stating that many bandits were also killed during a gunfight with Ansaru militants in the forest.
He expressed that men, women, and children were fleeing to safer villages as the bandits had invaded Old Kuyello, taking away foodstuffs.
Ishaq Usman Kasai, the Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, verified the incident. However, there were no official statements from the state government or the police command in the state.
The police command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for comment.
In another unfortunate event, two nursing mothers were among 30 villagers abducted from Unguwar Liman, Gwada community in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State.
The abduction occurred on a Sunday night when bandits invaded the community. On Friday, due to health challenges, the two nursing mothers, along with their babies, and another baby boy, totaling five people, were released.
Malam Jafar Anaba, a resident and community leader, revealed that the bandits had demanded a substantial ransom for the remaining captives, which the villagers couldn’t afford.
Efforts to contact the state police command’s spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by communities in Kaduna State, where clashes between different groups result in displacement, violence, and the abduction of villagers, adding to the complexity of the security issues in the region.
