Barely 48 hours after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai launched 2 Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) to flush out armed bandits from Birnin-Gwari area of Kaduna State, the criminals have reportedly killed 10 persons in attacks on four villages in the area.
The attacks which occurred on Wednesday evening also left scores seriously injured.
The Nation recalled that, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai had on Monday launched the FOB, and charged his troops to bring victory against the bandits to him in three weeks.
However, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mukhtar Aliyu who confirmed the incident, said seven persons were killed in the attack which he said occurred on Wednesday.
He added that, the bandits invaded Mashigi, Dakwaro, Sabongida villages at about 5pm on Wednesday evening, shooting sporadically and burning down houses and farmlands in the affected villages.
Aliyu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said seven were killed and five others in the attack.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar had ordered the immediate deployment of mobile police to the communities.
The attack came on the heels of the flagged-off of the two Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Birnin-Gwari for the ‘operation Idon Raini’ at the Kanfsnin Doka Village proposed base.
The villages raided by the bandits include; Mashigi, Dakwaro, Sabon gida and one other village close to Dakwaro.
The attack, according our source occurred at about 5.00pm, according to our source lasted for more than three and half hours.
He also said the bandits, who rode on motorbikes, as usual in large numbers, killed, burnt houses and food stuff in the various villages that they attacked.
The source added that the ten bodies of those killed had been recovered from the bush while the volunteers and hunters as well as security operatives were still combing bushes.
Members of the community under the aegis of the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance said “A member of volunteers, Malam Umar said so far ten bodies of people killed were recovered, while many are unaccounted for. Also the Armed bandits burnt houses and grains stock of the affected villages.
“Already volunteers from the southern axis of Birnin-Gwari and Security men were mobilized to ascertain the number of casualties.
“The affected villages are in need of aid, such as food, shelter and clothes.
“Despite this attacks and Kidnappings daily along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road, we are saluting the Federal government and security agencies for deployment of personnel to deal with the situation in Birnin-Gwari.
“We hope more troops and special police task force will be deployed.”
Source:The Nation
