Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Barely 48 hours after Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani declared that travellers could use the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road without security escorts, suspected bandits struck along the route on Thursday, killing one person and wounding another in an attack that has cast serious doubt on the government's security claims.
The attack occurred at about 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026, according to a resident of Birnin Gwari who confirmed the incident. The assailants reportedly killed the victim, stole his motorcycle, and shot his brother, identified as Mallam Haruna, who was rushed to hospital for treatment after the attackers fled.
Governor Sani had, during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, July 1, challenged the programme's anchor to travel to Birnin Gwari himself or invite the station's Kaduna correspondent to do so, insisting that the road was now safe and free of security threats. However, residents have disputed the governor's claim, insisting that bandits remain active along the highway.
Residents recalled that the criminals recently killed a commercial driver, said to be a grandson of one of the district heads in the Birnin Gwari Emirate, before abducting passengers travelling from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari. The latest attack comes amid growing frustration over the Kaduna State Government's widely publicised amnesty and reconciliation initiative with bandits.
In a statement issued under the banner of the Kuyello Progressives, residents of Kuyello, Kutemeshi, Tabbanni, Dogon Dawa, and Kazage appealed to the Birnin Gwari Local Government and the Kaduna State Government to urgently intervene, saying the reconciliation meeting held in Kamfanin Doka has failed to bring peace to their communities. The residents alleged that herders continue to allow their livestock to graze on cultivated farmlands, destroying crops and leaving farmers with huge losses.
According to the group, thousands of hectares of farmland have already been devastated, plunging many farming families into severe hardship. The statement further alleged that killings, kidnappings, theft, and the rape of girls and married women have continued unabated despite the peace accord, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of the government's reconciliation efforts.
"We therefore appeal to the government and all relevant stakeholders to intervene immediately to stop this destruction and protect the lives, livelihoods and property of the affected communities," the statement read. The group said the affected communities have remained law-abiding and have continued to honour all the terms agreed during the peace process, warning that the people would no longer remain silent in the face of their continued suffering.
The attack on Thursday is the latest in a series of violent incidents along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari axis, a corridor that has witnessed repeated assaults despite claims of peace deals with armed groups. The Birnin Gwari–Kaduna axis has long been a hotspot for banditry, ambushes, kidnappings, and violent attacks, with residents and travellers frequently reporting fear of using the route due to repeated security incidents.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the Kaduna State Government's reconciliation initiative with armed groups, as residents continue to demand urgent action to restore security and protect lives and livelihoods across the area.
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