I dont want to respond to the myopic thought expressed in your comment just as I dont wish to react to you on insulting Muslims or linking them with activities they repel on daily basis. This is a common characteristic of those with shallow mindsets or drifted psychology in respect of the myriads of security issues bedevilling this country. Whatever problem affects a section of Nigeria, we give it religious or political coloration. But, let me tell you, the Birnin Gwari problem is for all and sundry. Its a time bomb that must be detonated! I just wanna say one or two things on this note. Sahara Reporters have gotten their facts for the news right. Theyve only said but absolute truth. Our problem in Birnin Gwari started more than ten years ago when armed bandits took camps in the forests bordering Niger state, Katsina State, Kebbi state and even Abuja. These armed bandits, or simply Armed Robbers have been terrorizing the people of Birnin Gwari, Buruku, Udawa, Labi, Gayam, Kuriga all in Kaduna state, Funtua in Katsina state as well as Kagara, Pandogari in Niger state. Birnin Gwari is in the center. Travellers going to Niger state, Kwara, or Lagos and all those major towns on that route, or those travelling to Katsina via Funtua, or those travelling to Zamfara state or even Kebbi and Sokoto states have to mandatorily pass through the High Ways linking to Birnin Gwari. For over ten years, the armed robbers have been brutally killing travellers on those major High Ways, most of which were influential business men/women and or civil servants of Birnin Gwari origin. Though, the victims cut across all states in Nigeria and irrespective of religious inclination, but Birnin Gwari people suffer the agony most. Business and farming activities, two active means of occupation in the area, have been crippled down as a result Armed Robbery. Lives were lost and several other victims were plunged to permanent state of incapacity as a result of gun shot or matchet cut. Thousands of victims were dispossed of the millions they laboured for in their lives. Some victims were traumatized to the extent that they are now outright insanes. For over years, the vigilante groups were fighting the Armed Robbers under the co ordination of the Emir of Birnin Gwari Malam Zubair Jibril Mai Gwari. The emirate council is the only hope for the desperate people of Birnin Gwari. The emir is the only succour to the people. If not because of his persistent and resisting efforts to repel the ugly operations of the Armed Robbers, the plight of the people would have been greater than it is currently. Birnin Gwari people have exhausted all possible avenues to let the government know about their plight. For years theyve been calling on government to come to their aid, but nothing effective has yet been done by any government. Promises were made while people are being killed. The Armed Robbers have taken siege of so many villages there, no one, no security personnel dares confront them. The Birnin Gwari town, despite the fact that it shares borders with Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi states and even Abuja, with all its vastness and wide geographical area, is having less than a hundred Police Men deployed to the many villages of Birnin Gwari. Certainly, even a hundred Police Men cannot contain the demand of security in the town of Birnin Gwari. Government is fully award of this fact, thought it continued to give a deaf ear to the issue. Government is doing nothing effective to contain the ugly situation. And the issue is growing bigger by the day. Only Allah knows its gravity and only Him knows whether the problem is not as or even greater than the insurgency in the Northeastern states of Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of cattles are on daily basis being stolen away. Animal rearing, another occupation thriving in the area has been crippled. Government is doing nothing. Recently, the emir of Birnin Gwari, has came on media explaining the extent of damages done by the Armed Robbers against the people. Unfortunately, instead of the police to accept the facts made known by the emir, they resorted to debunking the emirs explorative statements. People have been pushed to the wall. The ugly trend must not continue like this. Government should not try in any way to allow this unfortunate killings of our people by the Armed Robbers continue unchecked. Thats the message passed during that peaceful protest. Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi state must not be in the same situation the Northeastern states were ditched into. Government must act now and not later. It may be too late if nothing concrete and effective is done to curtain or curb the rising tides of insecurity in that axis. Let people not be provoked to take laws into their hands, this may not augur well. Let government do something now. Basically, the protest yesterday, which was completely peaceful, was stage to reawaken the government to face this issue with all seriousness.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:39:23 +0000