Siege of Birnin Gwari

Last updated
Siege of Birnin Gwari
Part of Nigerian bandit conflict
DateMay 31 - June 3, 2022
Location
Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Result

Indecisive

  • Fighting ceases after June 3
Belligerents
Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
Birnin Gwari Vanguards for Safety and Good Governance 		Flag of Ansaru.svg Ansaru
Casualties and losses
Unknown 2+ killed
Many civilians killed
Many civilians kidnapped

Between May 31 and June 2, 2022, militants from Ansaru laid siege to the town of Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, Nigeria, kidnapping and killing people who tried to get in or out of the city.

Contents

Background

Ansaru is an al-Qaeda aligned Islamist group based in Kaduna State that split off from Boko Haram in 2012. [1] After pledging allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2022 after years in declining membership, the group found a foothold in Kaduna State where it made peace with local villages and imposed Sharia law in areas. [1] The group had based most of it's recruitment in eastern Birnin Gwari LGA, from the communities of Old Kuyello, Kazage, Kutemeshe, Kwasa-Kwasa, Gobirawa, and Farin Ruwa. [2] On April 5, Ansaru militants attacked a Nigerian military base in Polwire, near Birnin Gwari, killing seventeen soldiers and three vigilantes. [3] In late May 2022, just eight days before the start of the siege, Ansaru began setting up checkpoints on highways leading out of Birnin Gwari. [4]

Siege

The first attack on Birnin Gwari began on May 31 along the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway, near the town of Udawa. [5] Eight vehicles traveling in a convoy were set ablaze by the militants, and an unknown number of civilians were killed and abducted. The abducted were mostly women and children. [5] Many of the civilians killed were burned alive in their vehicles. [6] Nigerian soldiers were deployed to the area of the attack along the highway. [6]

Ibrahim Nagwari, the commander of local vigilante group Birnin Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, said that attacks along the road continued by Ansaru militants until June 3. [7] An unknown number of citizens were killed and abducted in the ensuing attacks. [8] A local representative for the National Union for Road Transport Workers said that four of his drivers were missing from the attacks. [7] A civilian in Birnin Gwari told BBC that he heard gunshots throughout the city every day. [7] Kaduna State Police representative Mohammed Jalige said he was unaware of the attacks. [9]

On June 2, Jalige said that two militants were killed in a skirmish that began between Ansaru and Nigerian forces when they were deployed to the highway. [10] By June 4, residents in Birnin Gwari said that the violence had died down. [7]

Aftermath

Attacks in July and August intensified against communities in Birnin Gwari LGA, but not in the city itself. Highway attacks also ceased. [11] Civilians from these villages fled to Birnin Gwari city and other areas in Kaduna. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ansaru's comeback in Nigeria deepens the terror threat". ISS Africa. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  2. ↑ Nwafor (2022-08-05). "Mass exodus hits Birnin-Gwari, as terrorists battle over Damari". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  3. ↑ Ajibola, Akinola (2022-04-05). "10 Soldiers Killed As Bandits Attack Military Base In Kaduna". Channels Television. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  4. ↑ "ANSARU Providing Protection Monitoring Checkpoints At Roads To Locals in Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs, Kaduna State, Nigeria - 23 May 2022". TRAC. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  5. 1 2 TANIMU, ZAINAB (2022-06-01). "YET ANOTHER BIRNIN - GWARI TERRORISTS ATTACK, AS BANDITS ABDUCT SCORES, SET EIGHT VEHICLES ABLAZE. -" . Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  6. 1 2 "Nigeria's North West Terror Corridor: Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway". EONS Intelligence. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Birnin Gwari attacks: How gunmen lay siege on di north-western city for three days". BBC News Pidgin. 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  8. ↑ Y, Mukhtar (2022-05-31). "Again, Bandits Abduct Scores of Passenger, Set Vehicles Ablaze". PRNigeria News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  9. ↑ "Nigeria: Bandits Abduct Scores, Set Vehicles Ablaze On Birnin-Gwari — Kaduna Highway". Africa Prime News. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  10. ↑ Nigeria, News Agency of (2022-06-02). "Police neutralise two, recover rifles in Kaduna". Peoples Gazette Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  11. 1 2 Nwafor (2022-08-05). "Mass exodus hits Birnin-Gwari, as terrorists battle over Damari". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
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