Bandits have attacked members of the Ansaru terrorist sect in Birnin-Gwari local government area of Kaduna State.
According to reports, the bandits were said to have stormed Damari village, under Kazage Ward in the eastern part of the local government area in an attempt to dislodge the terrorists from the village. It was gathered that the sect members were “preaching” to locals when bandits opened fire, killing two villagers in the process.
Recall that there had been reports on how the terrorists have taken over communities in the eastern part of the LGA, guiding villagers against attacks by bandits.
The Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU),? Is’haq Usman Kafai, who confirmed the incident, said the clash between the two groups lasted for an hour. According to him, the Ansaru members who were also heavily armed overpowered the bandits which made them (bandits) to retreat from the village.?
Is’haq said a hospital was accidentally burnt due to the fire that spread from a burning vehicle. He further said the casualty figure between the armed bandits and the Ansaru group couldn’t be ascertained; he, however, said the locals hailed the Ansaru members for defending the town from the bandits’ attack.
It was also gathered that hundreds of residents, including women and children, fled from the town during the attack. The group said the attack was organised because the bandits knew the Ansaru members were in the town. It further said ?the Ansaru members continued with their preaching after the fight, as they advised the people to acquire arms to defend themselves against enemies as well as fight the Government in order to establish what they refer to as an Islamic State.
?When contacted, the State’s Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Jalige, promised to find out what actually transpired from the Police Area Command area before commenting.
