A protest against so-called “repentant” bandits erupted on Friday in Birnin Gwari town, the headquarters of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The protest was sparked by the killing of Ibrahim Adamu, who was reportedly murdered by bandits along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road, as well as the kidnapping of farmers in a village within the Birnin Gwari area.
The deceased, a commercial driver, is said to be a grandson of a traditional ruler in the Birnin Gwari Emirate.
A source in the town confirmed the development to SaharaReporters in a message.
According to the source, angry residents, mainly youths, took to the streets, chasing herders and other Fulani residents out of the town. The situation could have escalated into a breakdown of law and order but for the swift intervention of security forces.
The source added that the protest was eventually brought under control following the intervention of traditional rulers and community leaders. It was further gathered that herders and other Fulani travelling in and out of the town fled for fear of possible reprisals.
SaharaReporters earlier on Friday reported that the ‘repentant’ bandits in Kaduna State killed the commercial driver and abducted nine other persons in two separate attacks along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road and in a village within Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The driver, identified as Mallam Ibrahim Adamu, was said to be the grandson of one of the District Heads of the Birnin Gwari Emirate, a relative confirmed to SaharaReporters in a message sent to our New York office.
According to a local family source, Ibrahim was killed at Kwanan Giginya along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway when armed men opened fire on his commercial vehicle.
The attackers reportedly killed him on the spot and abducted about five passengers from the scene before fleeing.
In a separate incident, four farmers were also kidnapped while working on their farms in the Kurgi area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The victims were said to have been carrying out routine farming activities when the gunmen struck and whisked them away to an unknown location.
The twin attacks have further heightened concerns over insecurity along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari axis, a corridor that has witnessed repeated assaults despite claims of peace deals with armed groups.
Residents say the continued violence has severely disrupted farming activities, economic movement, and general safety in rural communities.
Community members also alleged that armed groups operating in the area routinely seize motorcycles, phones, money, and other valuables from victims, in addition to killings and abductions that they say are often underreported.
Residents have called on security agencies to intensify patrols along the highway and strengthen security presence in vulnerable farming communities to curb the recurring attacks.
(SaharaReporters)
