Published 16th Jan, 2022

By Tola Owoyele

There was pandemonium in Damari, a community in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday, when suspected bandits stormed the area in search of members of a rival bandit group said to be loyal to Malam Abba, a notorious terrorist in the state.

A member of the community, who spoke with FIJ on the condition of anonymity, said the gunmen came into the community on several motorbikes, firing sporadically in the air.

“They came in shooting many times in the air. I am not sure anybody knows their exact number, but they were many. They were going from door to door, looking into every home,” he said.

“We later learnt that they were in search of fighters that are loyal to Malam Abba.”

According to the source, bandits came into the community to avenge the heavy loss they suffered in the hands of Abba and his men during a gun duel on Friday.

“They said they were not here for us, and that they were here for Malam Abba’s men. They however said that if they found out that anyone was hiding the people they were looking for, they would deal with them,” the source said.

FIJ gathered that the gunmen spent a considerable length of time in the community without any intervention from the police.

“As we speak, everybody is afraid to spend the night in the community. I am also fleeing now,” said the source.

FIJ made several calls to Muhammed Jalige, spokesperson of Kaduna police, but they were not answered. A text message sent to him was also not responded to.

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