Residents in Birnin Gwari Local Council of Kaduna State have lamented the regrouping of the dreaded Ansaru terrorists in the council.
According to them, the group has recruited 50 youths, and is forcefully marrying girls from the council.
It was also gathered that the terrorists occasionally pay surprise visits to some villages in the council.
A community source said their people stopped the terrorists from entering their community, so as not to lure their youths to join them or marry their daughters.
“But on Saturday and Sunday, we were caught by surprise as they came in. Our discussion with them was not pleasant,” the source added.
Confirming the development, Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), Ishaq Kasai, said the Ansaru group has been operating in neighbouring villages of Kazage, Unguwar Gwandu, Unguwar Gajere, and old Kuyello, luring unsuspecting youths into their fold with the objective to bolster their numbers and influence within the Local Council.
He explained that the Ansaru group leaders threatened to enter the village by force following the resistance of the residents of Kuyello, who took a bold step by sending representatives of the town, who are mostly clerics, to inform leaders of the group that the people of Kuyello did not want their presence in the town.
He said: “A few days ago, the Ansaru sect members made an unexpected appearance in the peaceful Kuyello village, expressing their willingness to establish a foothold among the locals, but the villagers told them to stay away from their area as they believe their main aim was to recruit their youths into the ranks of the extremist group.”
Kasia urged the state government to deploy soldiers to their rescue.
When contacted on phone, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Army 1 Division, Lt Col. Musa Yahyah, said: “I’ve been away from the station for a long period on assignment and I can’t comment on this.”
Also, spokesperson for Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, was yet to comment on the development at press time.
