Terrorist group, Ansaru, has banned political activities in several Kaduna towns, particularly the eastern portion of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU), Ishaq Kasai confirmed this in a statement.
According to Kasai’s statement, there will be trouble if any political activity occurs in any of the eleven political wards in the local government area.
“BEPU note with dismay that the locals who have joined the group are afraid to live in the town because of the fear they could be arrested by the police or security agencies.
“BEPU disclose that the clarion call among the new recruits is for the establishment of an Islamic state.
“The Ansaru and the new recruits are of the belief that their numerical strength will help them to bring the present democratic government down.
“Presently the Ansaru are going round, distributing memory cards to the locals which contain their beliefs and doctrine.
“A disturbing scenario is where the group banned all political activities in many communities such as Damari of Kazage Ward. Politicians from these communities have to go far away secretly to the neighbouring communities before they hold political meetings.
“For instance this week, an Okada rider, who lives in Unguwar Makera of Kazage Ward was seen with a sticker of one of the candidates vying for the Kaduna State House of Assembly and he was thoroughly beaten by the Ansaru.
“People in these communities are now disenchanted and frustrated about participating in political activities.
“We don’t know how the coming Elections will take place in those areas because even the last Local Government Election did not hold in the Area due to the escalating insecurity which made the election results be declared inconclusive and a Sole Administrator was appointed overseeing the affairs the Local Government up to now.
“In short, the Ansaru is now in charge of many of the communities in the area and the group is expanding its occupation.
They now call the shots and determine what is to be done in the villages they are dominating.
“Those among the locals who are interested in joining the group are increasing.
“Those who have joined already used to come back to the communities and take those interested to the forests to spend days for indoctrination.
“When they come back, they usually narrate that, the Ansaru members used to tell them to go and join them to fight the Government and democracy in order to install Islamic State.
“We are disturbed that despite the worrisome development, no meaningful response from authorities.
“Even recently when our people were attacked and eight cars were burnt and scores of our people were kidnapped on Birnin-Gwari to Kaduna Road, nothing has been done by the Government.
The government has never acknowledged the incident or sympathised with our community.
“Our communities are being attacked, people kidnapped and killed daily without a response, acknowledgement or report”, the statement read in part.
