Residents of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have expressed deep concern over the security challenges in the area in recent years.
They observed that the insecurity situation has grossly affected their normal way of life and is having a negative toll on their livelihoods.
A resident of Buruku community, Alhaji Shuaibu Isah, explained that the Kaduna – Birnin Gwari expressway that used to be a beehive of activities was now a ghost of itself.
He said vehicles conveying passengers and goods from the northern to the Southern part of the country usually passed through that route and normally stopped at some of the communities to make purchases, which increased income earning of the locals.
According to him, “Today, with insecurity in the area, the road is deserted as only few vehicles ply the road due to the activities of men of the underworld.
“As l am speaking to you, this has become history as the route has become a ghost of itself due to activities of bandits and kidnappers.”
Also narrating her experience, Hajiya Maimuna Musa, of Idawa community, noted that residents have been forced to migrate to other towns, abandoning their farmlands to the criminals.
She narrated that two days ago, her nephew was killed along the route when bandits opened fire on their vehicle.
According to a driver, Murtala Yaro, the hoodlums shattered his vehicle with bullets. He thanked the Almighty that none of his passengers was injured.
A youth leader who sought anonymity, explained that “it is only major towns along the Kaduna – Birnin-Gwari road that you still find major activities going on.
” All the surrounding villages are deserted thereby affecting farming which is the major occupation of the people.”
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, when contacted, explained that the Command has just deployed a team of policemen made of Mopol, Anti-kidnapping, and conventional policemen to boost security in the area.
He assured that he has directed the Divisional Police Officers, (DPOs), to work in synergy with the special task force deployed to the area.
He gave the assurance that Birnin-Gwari route would soon be a safe passage for safety of lives and restoration of business activities.
