Update: Two men lynched in Birnin-Gwari were Sudanese terrorists, not herders
Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) alleged that the two men lynched by aggrieved youths on Sunday, October 2, in Birnin-Gwari, were terrorists from Sudan.
A statement issued by BEPU President Ishaq Usman Kasai on Monday, October 3, 2022, noted that while the union is clearly against any form of popular action under any pretext, it draws citizens’ attention to the not resorting to taking laws into their hands, regardless of frustration and provocation.
According to Mr. Kasai, the available records of which BEPU is aware show that those lynched were not herders as previously stated, but international criminal syndicates that were terrorizing the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area.
“BEPU, a distinct and peaceful union, is clearly against any form of popular action in any form and hereby draws the attention of citizens not to resort to taking laws into their own hands. , regardless of frustration and provocation.
“Citizens are invited to always channel their grievances to the competent authorities and above all to continue to devote themselves to prayers for divine intervention in the current situation of insecurity.
“The Union once again appreciates the efforts and successes recorded by the resilient security forces in their efforts to sanitize the general area of Birnin-Gwari and calls on them to intensify operations in the communities surrounding the town of Birnin- Gwari where bandits are currently demanding and forcing communities to pay “protection fees” and crop levies respectively.
“Obviously, while the lynching of suspected bandits is highly condemnable, the Union watches with deep concern the manner in which the issue has been reported to selectively and deliberately portray Birnin Gwari in bad taste, and targeted to prove a false narrative. on the matter in order to endanger the innocent and defenseless citizens of Birnin-Gwari local government.
“While we appreciate the resolve of governments to investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of this primal act, we also observe that government officials appear to be in such a rush to release the sensitive statement without examining the identity of the “alleged shepherds. “who were lynched. by mob action.
“Available records of which BEPU is aware show that the lynched ‘shepherds’ were terrorist mercenaries from the Republic of Sudan. Therefore, those allegedly lynched are not herders as falsely reported earlier, but international criminal syndicates that terrorized Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area.
“BEPU findings revealed that the alleged lynching occurred after the suspects forcibly snatched a motorbike from a farmer on the outskirts of the main town of Birnin-Gwari.
“Therefore, BEPU is concerned to observe that the statement issued by the government on the matter has not equally captured and sympathizes with the innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari who have been attacked at different locations over the past five days. .
“More so, on the same day the mob action occurred, a driver was killed and dozens were kidnapped in the Dogon Hawa and Tabanni areas. This is in addition to the killings and kidnappings of innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari on the roads, in farms and their homes which have become a daily occurrence.
“BEPU, once again, appreciates the efforts of security agencies to restore peace to our region and urged government officials to show concern about any ugly situation, to always be in a cautious mood when publication of any statements that could undermine the peace-loving and defenseless people who are besieged by the terrorists, in order to avoid a further escalation of the situation.”
