The Ansaru terrorist group, a breakaway faction of the notorious Boko Haram terrorists, has begun recruiting throughout villages in Kaduna State’s Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area.
According to a report by Daily Post, members of the Ansaru organization intended to present Sallah gifts to inhabitants of settlements in Birnin Gwari in order to entice residents, particularly young people, to join their murderous organisation.
The organization, which is said to have been active for years along the Birnin-Gwari axis, is responsible for a number of deadly attacks in Kaduna and its vicinity.
Alhaji Usman Dankabo, a resident of one of the settlements in Birnin-Gwari, informed reporters that members of the Ansaru group visited the following villages: Damari, Farin Ruwa, Kwasa Kwasa, Kuyello, Gobirawa, Tabanni, Kutemeshi, and Kazage, urging residents to join the organization.
“They distributed gifts, preached to them, and assured them of safety against any attack,” the source said.
A resident of one of the villages, Abdullahi Madaki said they distributed biscuits, performed motorcycle stunts to the delight of villagers and distributed pamphlets, flash disks and other accessories on the activities of the group.
Abdullahi said the group vowed to protect them against any invasion and unjust maltreatment.
The group had a violent clash with bandits in October 2021, which claimed the lives of over 30 bandits operating around the Damari axis, Birnin Gwari LGA.
Suspected members of the group also last year attacked a military formation along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway and killed 11 soldiers, four villagers and injured many others.
They reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing of two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), attached to the security personnel.
They were also said to be responsible for attack on Kaduna-Abuja train that claimed the lives of eight, wounded 26, while scores were abducted
The Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige did not pick his calls for confirmation, just as he did not respond to text messages sent to him.