Birnin-Gwari: Again, Armed Men Kidnap 22 Travelers, Nursing Mother

By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Michael Olugbode, in Maiduguri
 

Twenty three travelers, including a nursing mother, were kidnapped yesterday morning by deadly bandits operating in Birnin-Gwari axis of Kaduna State.

This is just as 2,000 women in Borno State widowed by Boko Haram have been given relief materials during the ongoing Ramadan season by a non-governmental organisation, Complete Care and Aid Foundation.

Speaking to PRNigeria on how the 23 people were kidnapped, one of the commercial drivers named Mohamed Kebi, who escaped the scene of the kidnapping, said that five vehicles were intercepted during the abduction.

Kebi said: “At least five vehicles were intercepted by Kidnappers along Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna road around 11.00am this morning Friday (yesterday). At least 23 people were kidnapped, including a nursing mother and one other kid.  

“The incident occurred at Kwanar-tsauni between Udawa and Labi. 

“Though there is improved security along Funtua route which many commercial vehicles ply, we want the government to also provide maximum security in other routes that are haven of Kidnappers,” he concluded.

In a related development, the troops of 223 Battalion deployed in operation Idon Raini on June 6, 2018 embarked on a raid operation at Danguru, Babandoka Forest of Dansadau district in Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, following a report of bandits’ activities in the area.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Texas Chukwu, yesterday stated that three of the bandits were killed during the encounter and their camps also destroyed.

Chukwu said the troops also embarked on raid operation in Gobirawa and Kwacha villages around Madaka Forest, still in Dansadau district in Maru LGA of Zamfara State.

He said two of the bandits were neutralised during that encounter while others fled following the troops’ superior fire power.

According to him, the troops are making efforts to get the fleeing bandits, and that a motorcycle and a mobile phone were recovered from them. The DAPR advised the public to report any suspicious activity or movements to law enforcement agents for prompt action.

On the relief materials, the 2,000 widows that benefited were selected from two local government areas of Borno State, Maiduguri and Njimtilo in Konduga, by Complete Care and Aid Foundation, established by Barrister Aisha Wakil, popularly called Mama Boko Haram, to take care of victims of ongoing insurgency in the North East.

The 2,000 women were given relief materials yesterday to assist them break their Ramadan fast daily.

While presenting the relief materials to the women from Maiduguri, Aisha Wakil said the decision to give to this large number of women was taken because many of them were without food and that they may not have anything to eat during this holy month.

She asked other well-meaning individuals to assist widows and other victims of Boko Haram get back on their feet.

Mama Boko Haram said: “We have to make these women feel the society needs them and we can only do this if we wipe tears away from their faces.

“I am using this opportunity to appeal to everyone to come out and give a heart to these women and one of the ways to do it is to donate towards their feeding and reintegration back into the society.”

She lamented that “many of the women you see out here, have no home, no husband and no income, they have been brought down to ground zero and need to be assisted by all, no matter how little.”