An army officer and 21 villagers were reportedly massacred in Birnin Gwari town of Kaduna State in two days of siege.
The attack happened between Thursday and Friday last week.
The Senator representing Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani, disclosed this to some journalists in Minna the Niger State capital on Saturday evening on his way back to Kaduna after rounding off his campaign for re-election in one of the towns in Brinin Gwari which borders Niger State.
The senator, who could not follow the notorious road back to Kaduna, had to reroute his journey through Minna with his supporters. He and his supporters had stopped in Minna for refreshment when some journalists encountered him.
According to him, the situation in Birnin gwari and parts of Niger and Zamfara states “is pathetic; people are being massacred in cold blood daily.”
The senator who said he was briefed by the villagers during his campaign in the area did not give the identity of the army officer or the command he belonged to before his death.
Although the claim by the senator could not be independently confirmed, and there had been no report from either the police or army to confirm the recent killings, our correspondent, however, gathered that the District Head of Alawa, in Niger State which share border with Kaduna, was forced to relocate from the community with over 200 villagers due to the activities of armed bandits in the area.
However, according to Shehu Sani, there was a pathetic incident on Thursday when mourners who went to bury their lost ones were attacked by the bandits at the burial ground.
Some of them (mourners), he said were abducted and taken to unknown destination while others fled, abandoning the remains of the people they went to bury.
“They have to run and leave the bodies; those who couldn’t escape met cruel fate.
“On several occasions, I have to paid ransom to secure the release of some of my coordinators who were kidnapped,” Shehu Sani said.
He lamented that he could not access Birnin Gwari through Kaduna axis and had to take the longer route of going through Suleja to Minna to Kagara before reaching the town, adding that “I am taking the same route back to Kaduna.”
He therefore raised the alarm that elections would not hold in parts of Birnin Gwari and some areas in Zamfara State because the people had deserted the areas.
“Many people have left the villages; they sold their houses and farmlands and are now staying in places where they think is safe
“Surely this will affect the elections; how can people vote where they are not registered; how can they come out and vote when there is no security,” he queried.
Senator Shehu Sani who is flying the flag of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in the National Assembly election was however silent when he was asked if the situation would affect his chances of winning in the election.
He urged the Federal government to ensure that resources provided for the procurement of arms and ammunition were used for the purpose they were intended.
He praised the courage of soldiers and other security agents on the field for their braveness to face the bandits with sophisticated weapons.
The legislator speaking on the presidential and National Assembly election slated for Saturday appealed to Nigerians especially voters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner and avoid anything that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“The winner in the election should be magnanimous in victory,” he said, adding that the loser should immediately “call the winner to congratulate him; that is the only way to reduce tension.”