Birnin Gwari youth protest killing of university lecturer by bandits

From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

Worried over the killing of Kaduna State University Lecturer on Sunday by suspected Bandits along Birnin Gwari High Way, Youth in the area yesterday came out enmasse to stage a protest with a call to the state governor, Muktar Ramalan Yero to bring an end to incessant killings of innocent lives in the area.

Reports from the area said the youths blocked some major high ways that passed through the town as early as 6:30 am as they forced all motorists to divert to alternative routes.

Sources in the area told Peoples Daily that all major high ways that passed through Birnin Gwari town were blocked by the angry youths.

The protesters were said to have left hundreds of travellers stranded for hours.

The youth raised placards with inscription such as “No Security in Birnin Gwari,” Gov. Yero we want security,” we want vigilantes not soldiers,” among others.

Barrister Salisu Haruna was among the protesters and he said they came out to stage the protest because they are tired of the incessant killings happening in the area.

“ We are tired with the way our people are been killed and nothing is being done to stop the bandits who are terrorizing our people. Just on Sunday, our son late Abba, a lecturer with KASU was killed by the bandits. Also recently some innocent people were also killed by the bandits.

“Government should do something about these killings. We didn’t touch or damage any vehicle during the protest, all we did was to show our anger to authority concerned to take actions because our people are beginning to lose confidence on the security,” he said.

Peoples Daily further gathered that security personnel sent to the scene of the protest showed sense of maturity as they did all they could not to harass or intimidate the protesters.

The Local government stakeholders also held an emergency meeting on how to ensure that the protest didn’t go out of control as the protest ended at exactly 4:30 pm.

It could be recalled that Peoples Daily reported on Monday that a lecturer with Kaduna State University was shot death by suspected bandits on his way to Kaduna. He was the son of the chief Iman of the town.

Birnin Gwari bushes were known to be a den of these bandits that attacked and killed travellers and villagers at will.