Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State has appealed to the new President, Bola Tinubu, to save the Emirate from banditry and insecurity.
The group, which speaks for Birnin-Gwari Emirate said that bandits terrorising the local government area have imposed N10million levy on farmers in the area which they must pay or forget farming in this rainy season.
Ishaq Usman Kasai, chairman of BEPU, who made the appeal in a statement he issued to congratulate President Tinubu, who holds the traditional title of Dakaren Birnin-Gwari, also appealed to the new President to help address the security challenge of the local government area and by extension Kaduna State as a whole.
“Disturbingly, the armed bandits continue to impose levies on farming communities in the area. Just this week, the bandits imposed N10 million levy on three farming communities, namely; Sabon-Layi, Tashar Keji and Ruwan Rana where they give these communities grace of three days, which expires Tuesday 30/5/2023, to meet up this demand or be attacked.
The insecurity situation in our area is a serious cause for concern, where Birnin-Gwari people are being kidnapped and killed by bandits daily. The economy of Birnin-Gwari which relies majorly on farming has been seriously crippled. Today, people could no longer access their farmlands due to insecurity. Most basic schools were closed and transportation halted affecting trading.
“Farming communities are being sacked by bandits almost everyday and people majorly women and children are becoming internally displaced on daily basis. Even today as I am writing this congratulatory message, the Community is on the other hand at grief because even last Sunday night, Dadin Kowa village was attacked and sacked by bandits on motorcycles wielding different kinds of riffles.
“In another sad development, yesterday Sunday 28/5/2023, been a day to your inauguration, large number of people including women and children were kidnapped on the road along Dogon Hawa, just about two kilometers away from the Birnin-Gwari main town.
