According to Intelligence gathered by News Central, a gun battle between Bandits and the Ansaru terror group on Sunday in Kaduna State’s Birni-Gwari Local Government Area resulted in numerous fatalities.
This is a reprisal attack following the recent conflict between the two terrorist groups on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
About 200 motorcycle-riding bandits who were armed with high-tech weapons assaulted Damari town in Kazage Ward in the eastern section of the local government on Wednesday, which led to the altercation.
Recall that News Central had reported that the Ansaru terrorists had already arrived in the area and were giving sermons to the populace with the aim of establishing an Islamic state where they would rule. They were also giving residents advice on how to arm themselves to defend themselves against their adversaries.
For their part, the bandits typically arrived to attack and pillage the settlements, killing and kidnapping for ransom and rustling cattle before hiding out in the woodlands. So, despite being aware that there were terrorists nearby, the bandits invaded the town.
Also recall that between January and May, armed bandits attacked a number of settlements in Birnin Gwari Local Government. Although 11 cases have been revealed by the media in less than five months, the villagers claim there are many more that have gone undetected.
As there doesn’t seem to be any indication of what guides the attackers’ choice, it looks like they choose the settlements at random. Attacks on both densely and thinly populated areas have occurred; some looted, while for others, nothing was taken. Some people’s homes were set on fire, while others were saved.
On April 1, bandits raided the village of Tsohuwar Gwari, killing two men and kidnapping nine others. The following day, the bandits attacked a nearby town called Sarari and killed the village chief and five other residents while the locals were still grieving over their situation.