The emergence of a new deadly group called ‘Yan Shara’ in Kaduna state has compelled the State Police Command to rein in following a string of attacks on the residents of the state.
Yan Shara, which means “Sweepers” in Hausa Language, has been held responsible for the series of attacks on some residents of the state, using dangerous weapons like knives and machetes.
Speaking to Premium Times in an interview, the spokesperson of the command, Abubakar Zubair, said though the police were not aware of some of the attacks, the activities of the group had been put under control by the force.
He said:-
“The Kaduna police have all the information about the activities of the gang in some part of the state that include Tudun Wada and Rigasa area and have taken all the necessary steps to bring that to a stop. We never had any other report of such activities from groups like that in recent time.”
“The case of Unguwan Rimi and Unguwan Dosa are new to me now but the police will step up and find out what actually happened. The police are not taking it lightly with such activities of hoodlums in the state anymore.
Also speaking on their nefarious act, a community leader, Mal Mustapha, said many of the members of the Yan Shara were residents of the same areas where the activities had taken place.
“As a community leader, we keep telling people in the Mosque and gathering to be cautious of these boys,” Mr. Mustapha said.
“Nobody knows what their motives are or what they intend to achieve with such activities. We are calling on the Kaduna state Police and the government to in a matter of urgency hasten taking action on this group’s activities in the state.”
In the same vein, a resident of Unguwan Dosa, Bello Sani, said he narrowly escaped being lynched last week when the group attacked him on his way from the mosque where he had gone to pray.
He said:-
“It happened after the last prayer of the day, Isha’a at Unguwan Dosa. I was going home from the mosque in Unguwan Dosa when I saw people running and coming my way.
“At first I thought it was a riot. Then one lady who was running overtook me and was shouting run! run! run! the sweepers are coming. I did not understand what she meant by sweepers until I saw some shops close to me closing down and also telling me to run.
“However, before I could run fast, one among them hit me with a big stick on my back. I was able to jump in to a house close to me forcing them to retreat.”
Last week, a certain carpenter, Francis Emmanuel, was attacked in Kakuri area of the metropolis by some suspected members of the gang for failing to observe the ongoing Ramadan fast.
