Again, terrorists kill Kaduna farmers, abduct traders

Bandits, on Thursday, invaded Sabon Layi community  in the  troubled  Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing three farmers while scores of others, including some travellers, were kidnapped.

The incident took place at about 12pm, a community leader in the area, Sallau Ibrahim, told The PUNCH.

He identified the three slain farmers as   Anas Sabonlayi, Abubakar Dankibiya and Harisu  Lemu.

Ibrahim said the deceased were buried in Sabon Layi around 4.30pm on Thursday in  accordance with Islamic rites.

According to him, the attacked was a reaction to military operation currently going on in the troubled areas.

The bandits also attacked some traders travelling  from the western part to  the Thursday Birnin-Gwari Market.

“They kidnapped some of the traders/travellers on their way to the market,”Ibrahim said. “For about two weeks the farmers didn’t go to farm in the area. Today they decided to go, they were attacked and kidnapped,”  Sallau said.

The Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, Usman Kasai,  while also confirming the incident, said, “They (bandits) killed three people. Many were abducted. We are trying to know how many are in the forest with the bandits.”

There was no official confirmation of the incident either from the police or the state government.

As of the time of filing this report, the Police  Public Relations Officer in the state,  Mohammad Jalige, had yet to respond to our correspondent’s enquiry on the incident.

He added, “Today in Nigeria and the African continent, you cannot talk of the media without mentioning Dokpesi. In the political space, he was a very bold, fearless, and courageous person.” Punch