Daily Trust gathered that not much beyond the name and reputation is known about Malam Abba who, residents say, resides within the enclave of Kuduru forests, west of Birnin Gwari LGA. The forest is said to share boundaries with Chikun, Igabi and Giwa local government areas; Kaduna’s most notorious bandit hideouts. While Malam Abba, his lieutenants and several other bandits call Kuduru forest home, several other criminals lay low in the larger Kamuku National Park which crisscrosses five northern states of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara and Kebbi states. With a large chunk of Kamuku situated within western boundaries of Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari LGA, surrounding communities as well as the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road and Kaduna-Abuja road have in recent times become some of the most dangerous routes in northern Nigeria.
While some of the villages have been deserted completely, others are just there in name considering that the people no longer live a normal life.
While women and children live at the mercy of the bandits, men, especially those seen as “prosperous” have no option than to flee to safer locations.
Over 100 villages sacked in Kaduna State
Years of insecurity in parts of Kaduna State have led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people who have fled their homes for refuge in other parts of the state.
A chunk of Kaduna’s insecurity rests in about 10 local government areas including Zangon Kataf, Sanga, Kaura, Kauru, Jema’a, Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi and Kajuru LGAs.