Ansaru Terrorists Have Formed ‘Parallel’ Government In Kaduna – El-Rufai Writes Buhari

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over the activities of Ansaru terrorists in the North-West state.

In a letter sent to the President in late July, Governor El-Rufai informed the President that Ansaru terrorists have formed a parallel government in the state.

According to Premium Times, the governor also told President Buhari that the terrorists have formed a permanent operational base in the state.

The group also informed the Nigerian leader that the terrorists are believed to have moved to Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State in 2012 when they broke away from Boko Haram.

It was gathered that the terrorists that formed Ansaru were responsible for some of the high-profile attacks claimed by Boko Haram before the split.

According to intelligence reports and human sources, Premium Times said that such attacks included the UN building bombing of August 2011 and the kidnap of some foreigners.

The sources added that Ansaru pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, AQIM, in 2020, and is responsible for many of the high-profile abductions as well as armed attacks on the police in Kaduna State.

In the memo, El-Rufai lay bare how the terrorists had infiltrated, dominated communities and formed “a parallel governing authority,” exercising control over social and economic activities and dispensation of justice in the area.

He said the terrorists have advanced in their plans to make Kaduna forest areas their “permanent operational base” for the North-west region, citing a “series of intelligence reports.”

“Observed movement patterns and intercepted communications of migrating terr@rists have shown a clear interest in setting up a base, with the stretches of forest area between Kaduna and Niger states strongly considered,” he wrote.

The governor also informed the President that the terrorists have promulgated a law to ban residents from participating in political activities towards the 2023 general elections.

“The insurgents enacted a law in the District, banning all forms of political activity or campaign ahead of the 2023 elections, especially in Madobiya and Kazage villages,” he wrote.