By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) said available records privy to the Union shows that the lynched ‘herders’ were terrorists mercenaries from the Republic of Sudan.
The Union therefore, stated that the alleged lynched persons are not herdsmen as falsely reported earlier but international criminal syndicates that have been terrorising Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area ( ID cards attached).
This was contained in reaction statement issued and signed by the Union’s Chairman Ishaq Usman Kasai, on Monday in Kaduna.
Kaduna state government had earlier issued a statement condemning the alleged lynching of two innocent herders by in Birinin Gwari community for linked with terrorists and ordered full scale investigation to fish out the killers.
Responding to government statement, BEPU stated that “Clearly, while the lynching of suspected bandits is highly condemnable, the Union observes with deep concern the way the issue has been reported to selectively and deliberately portray Birnin Gwari in the bad taste, and targeted to prove a false narrative on the issue to endanger the helpless innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari Local Government.
“While we appreciate governments resolve to investigate and bring perpetrators of this primitive act to book, we equally observe that, Government officials seem to be so in haste in issuing the sensitive statement without scrutiny of the identities of the ‘alleged herders’ that were lynched by mob action.
“Available records which BEPU are privy to, shows that, the lynched ‘herders’ were terrorists mercenaries from the Republic of Sudan. Therefore, the alleged lynched persons are not herdsmen as falsely reported earlier but international criminal syndicates that have been terrorising Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area ( ID cards attached).
“BEPU findings revealed that the alleged lynching occurred after the suspects forcefully snatched a motorcycle from a farmer at the outskirts of Birnin-Gwari main town.
“Therefore, BEPU is concerned to observe that, the statement issued by Government on the issue did not equally captured and commiserated with the innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari that were attacked at different locations for the past five days.
“More so, on the same day when the mob action occurred, one driver was killed and scores were kidnapped at Dogon Hawa and Tabanni areas. This is in addition to killings and kidnapping of the innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari on the roads, in farms and their homes which have become a daily occurrence.
“BEPU once more, appreciates the effort of security agencies towards restoring peace in our area and urged Governments officials in showing concerns to any ugly situation to always be in a cautious mood in issuing any statement that is capable of undermining the peace-loving, helpless people that are under siege by the terrorists. This is with view to averting further escalation of the situation.
