Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has raised alarm over the infiltration of Ansaru terrorists in the northwest state.
The governor confirmed that some criminal elements belonging to the Ansaru terror group have been operating in the state, recruiting locals to wreak havoc on innocent lives.
El-Rufai made this disclosure while speaking during the state security council meeting which held on Thursday.
Rceiving the quarterly security briefing by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the Governor said the rising presence of Ansaru and Boko Haram terrorists in the state and their growing interaction with armed bandits could be responsible for the attack on the Abuja- Kaduna bound train on the 28th of March.
He noted that the terrorists have been moving from Northeast to Northwest, recruiting young people into their fold from vulnerable communities across the state.
According to the report submitted by Aruwan, at least 360 people were Killed due to banditry and other violent crimes and 1,389 persons were kidnapped between January to March 2022, adding that Kaduna Central Zone the most affected.
This comes amid reports that two terrorist groups, Ansaru and Boko Haram, may be re-emerging in Birnin-Gwari Emirate of Kaduna State.
Some residents of the area had expressed worry that Ansaru terrorists had found a place to stay in the Birnin-Gwari forests and have been recruiting locals in villages.