Bandits, illegal miners clash claims seven lives in Kaduna

 A clash between suspected bandits and a group of illegal miners in Kuyello Ward, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State left about seven people dead.

A source told JUSTNEWSLINE  that the incident took place around 11am, which brought panic among the residents as gunshots echoed across the area and forced residents to flee into the surrounding bushes for safety.

The area is known to host notorious bandits for illegal mining that have long caused security risk in the region.

Trouble started, according to the source, after a suspected bandit demanded levies from illegal miners operating in the area, causing a dispute that led to his death.

The slain bandit was said to have arrived from neighbouring Zamfara State to extort money from the miners as usual but the encounter claimed his life.

He explained, “The death of the bandit led to an invasion by his gang members in Kuyello, in broad daylight. They started shooting indiscriminately leading to the death of seven people, including some of the miners.”

The attack brought an end to the fragile calm the community had enjoyed for about a year in parts of Birnin Gwari following the Kaduna State Government’s peace-building initiatives.

He lamented that the illegal mining had become a serious problem to the people and became a “curse” for the people of Birnin Gwari.

He pleaded with the government to stop the illegal miners, saying that they were the reason the bandits keep returning, resulting in fights over money or gold, causing innocent people to suffer.

The source explained that following the incident, security personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent further violence.

Mansir Hassan, the state police command spokesman, could not comment on the incident as calls to his phone were not answered.