Banditry

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Residents living in the Mada district of the Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, have lamented that gunmen operating in the area have now taken complete control of the region.

According to available information, the district’s residents had abandoned their communities as a result of the men of the underworld’s relentless terror strikes.

A source states that numerous peasants have set up camp along the route between Kotorkoshi and Mada town as refugees after the robbers defeated the security personnel.

“We have not taken our baths for some days now because the notorious bandits have hijacked the entire area as they have overpowered the security operatives.

“As I am talking to you now, I don’t know the whereabouts of my two wives and children and I don’t know whether they have been kidnapped or they escaped to another area.

“We have no other means of livelihood except farming but we have been banned from our farming activities by bandits. The only wife and children with me now have entered Kotorkoshi village to beg for food for us to survive,” a resident identified as Mallan Ibrahim Mada was quoted as saying.

Recall that the Zamfara State government through its commissioner of information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara and that of Security and Internal Affairs confirmed that Mada district has been witnessing incessant terror attacks.

This forced the government to close all the markets and gas stations in the affected areas due to the increasing frequency of banditry operations in the axis.

“The State government is aware of the plight of the people due to banditry activities bedevilling the entire area; we, therefore, decided to shut down all the markets and filling stations to reduce the incessant terror attacks in the axis.

The incessant attacks appear to be one of the reasons the Matawalle-led administration seeks the Federal Government’s approval to legalise the use of firearms by residents of the affected communities.

The commissioner said, “We engaged the Federal Government into dialogue so that it can approve our request for everyone that is qualified to be carrying weapons for self-defense to reduce the tension.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Bello Mohammed of Zamfara state has raised concerns over the rising banditry activities and criminal informants in the state.

The governor said his government has noted the rise of informants’ activities leading to many unfortunate banditry attacks on soft targets.

This was disclosed in a statement signed Wednesday, June 15th, 2022, by Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.

The governor said they should take more stringent steps in addressing the current situation, including possible communication shutdown once again.

He, however, also commiserated with the families and loved ones of the recent unfortunate abduction of promising young entrepreneurs of Bebeji Plaza.

He reiterated that his administration is not oblivious to the situation at hand and has since taken more security steps in arresting its escalation.

The statement reads, “this singular incident marks another sad moment in the fight against the security challenges we are facing in our dear state. I appeal to the families of all abducted persons to have confidence in our ability to do all that is needed to be done in rescuing their dear ones.

“I have directed all security agencies for the speedy location of the abducted persons and will, in sha Allah, be rescued”, Governor Matawalle announced.

“Of very important concern is our determination to ensure that rural areas are free to go about their activities this farming season”, Governor Matawalle added.

The Governor also warned that his administration will not tolerate any act of indiscipline from unscrupulous persons who want to manipulate the present situation to score cheap political goals.

The Government, he said, will no longer fold its arms and allow heartless people to go on manipulating the misfortune of innocent citizens for their selfish political ends.

“We are a responsible Government and we shall not relent in ensuring the safety of all our citizens at all times. However, we shall not condone calculated political sabotage or vagaries and indiscriminate abuse of privileges to jeopardize our fragile security situation in the state” Governor Matawalle warned.

Governor Matawalle further advised all stakeholders to be alert and counter the activities of informants in their midst by assisting security operatives with intelligence in order to effectively address the security challenges threatening our communities at the moment.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Burutai, has called for negotiation with insurgents and armed groups terrorizing the country.

Buratai spoke at a one-day symposium on National Security organized by Arewa House in Kaduna on Saturday.

According to Burutai, there must be a serious effort that there are no ungoverned places in the country.

Buratai also commended Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and agreed with him on his negotiation approach with bandits as a way of ending insurgency in the country.

“This is where I commend Sheikh Gumi for his initiative. One-third of the fight is military; others should be non-kinetic through dialogue. We must get this solution, and this is the right time to get it done,” he stated.

By Muhammad Aminu

Bandits-cum-terrorists have killed at least three people in Gayawa village of Bukuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

They also kidnapped 23 people from Gayawa village and two other villages of Takalafiya and Kairu.

The attack was reported to have taken place in the early hours of Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

A Village head from one of the affected areas who did not want his name mentioned told The Daily Reality that the attack had displaced many villagers.

“We are restless and have been turned into displaced persons by the Dogo Gudale’s terror camp who attacked us today and kidnapped our 23 youths between the age of 19 and 35 years.”

He said the terrorists have moved them into their den to farm for them and expose them to other inhumane labour. 

“This has been his usual cruelty to our people. This is why my people ran away from the village to escape being kidnapped, killed, molested or held for ransom,” the monarch said.  

Twenty-two-year-old Balki Adamu, whose husband was among those abducted, expressed fear that the terrorists may demand ransom to release her husband. 

“My greatest fear is that the terrorists should not ask for ransom because we have no money and no assets to sell out for his freedom,” she said.

A member representing Bukuyum South at the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Sani Dahiru, told journalists that activities of terror groups had made seven villages in Kyaram Ward under his Constituency unaccessible. 

He said: “Zamfara State Government, in synergy with Nigeria’s security agencies, are tirelessly working hard to end the scourge of the insecurity affecting the areas.”

“As you might have been briefed on the situation in the affected areas, Zamfara State Commissioner for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs has already put everything in place to respond to the IDPs’ immediate need.”

Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara State, Mohammed Shehu, told our reporter, “the Command is presently contacting its sources in Bukuyum LGA for quick response to the latest security breaches in the areas.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigerian award-winning artist, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has expressed sadness and delivered condolence over the terrorist attacks happening across Nigeria. 

Burna Boy took to his verified Facebook account on Monday, June 6, 2022, to express sorrow, condolence and solidarity with the victims of the incessant attacks ravaging the country.

“Nothing is sacred anymore!? Mother’s, fathers, children and babies getting killed. My heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost family or friends from terrorists strikes across our country  these past few months. I stand with you.” He posted 

In recent times, notorious terrorists have been hitting many places in Nigeria, which has caused the loss of lives and property.

By Muhammad Sabi’u

Gunmen have carried out another horrific attack in four Zamfara State towns, killing dozens of residents. According to an eyewitness, the number of villagers slain could not be determined yet, but the bandits took several of them, leaving four individuals with varying degree of injuries.

According to reports, the villages are Gidan Dan-Inna, Gwaji, Karoka in Kwai-Kwai District, and Faru, in Bungudu and Maradun local government districts.

Some eyewitnesses reveal that, majority of those killed were members of a local vigilante group who were protecting the communities, and some of the community members were attacked on their farms.

Terrorists with powerful weapons were claimed to have assaulted the villages, killing and rustling animals. The communities were reportedly attacked on Sunday evening and early Monday morning, destroying properties worth millions of naira.

When contacted, the State Police Command Spokesman, SP Mohammed Shehu, confirmed the tragedy, adding that twenty people were slained in three villages in Bungudu Local Government and five more in Maradun Local Government Areas of the State.

Armed operatives have been dispatched to the affected and surrounding areas to protect people and their properties in the axis, he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

No fewer than 15 farmers were reportedly killed when bandits roamed Gakurdi village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State Tuesday, March 24, 2022.

The incident took place amidst mourning after over 40 farmers were slaughtered by Boko Haram fighters in Borno State.

The Daily Reality reported how the farmers were being killed and some of the bodies were dismembered while some were tied up and their throats slit by the terrorists in Kala Balge local government area of the state.

Our reporters gathered that the victims of the Katsina attack were massacred as they were preparing their farms ahead of the rainy season.

According to the resident the bandits “came around 8:30 am today (Tuesday), using four motorcycles and started killing the people. Three were killed on the same farm and eventually it was discovered that up to 15 were killed on different farms.”

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Unknown shooters, also suspected to be kidnappers, have gunned down three police officers and a commercial motorcyclist Thursday in Suleja, Niger State.

The incident was said to have occurred around 11 pm on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Daily Trust reported that the policemen were reportedly responding to a distress call when they were ambushed near a place called Old Barracks.

According to a source, “they were ambushed by the gunmen, who seemed to be expecting their arrival.” 

The Suleja Council Chairman, Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, has confirmed the incident.

He added that “about three persons, including a vigilante member, survived the attack.”

The Daily Reality learned that the victims were currently being treated at a hospital in the area.

DSP Wasiu Abiodun, the Police spokesperson in the state, could not be reached for comment.

By Aliyu Nuhu

It has been revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is reaching an agreement to release Boko Haram commanders and give them hefty amount of money for the release of the Kaduna train victims the terrorists abducted, according to some media reports.

The major reason a nation should not negotiate with terrorists is very simple, sensible and straightforward.

When a government rewards terror for perpetrating evil by giving the terror what it wants, it is reasonable to expect that they will, like others before them, continue their horrendous acts of violence, knowing that there may well be a prize for them afterwards.

Releasing people who have blood in their hands and giving them millions of dollars in return for release of some captives may bring a temporary relief to the nation and happiness to their families. However, always know that more families are put on the line to suffer the same agony in the future. The nation will enjoy reprieve only temporarily as terror has no rule of engagement. There will be more train attacks in the future, mark my words.

One area used effectively to defeat terror is denying it funding from all sources so that it will be unable to fund its heinous operations by paying salaries, hiring more fighters and getting fresh supply of weapons. Nigerian government has unwittingly been doing the opposite, by freeing Boko Haram commanders and giving them money to carry on with their acts of terror against hapless Nigerians. And this is the same government that is creating a law to make ransom payment a criminal offense.

The government knows where the captives are kept. Like what governor Nasir El-Rufai said, the place should be raided and rescue the victims. There may be some casualties but that is more acceptable than rewarding terrorists with what they want. The government will be releasing dangerous people to the society knowing that they will never repent. There are many ways to rescue the victims safely without much casualties. The government can gas the area. If it doesn’t know the technology, it should consult experts.

Another alternative is violent crackdown on them. History is replete with many examples. Nigeria has relative peace in the Northeast today not because it bought peace but because it carried arms and crushed Boko Haram. Patience and intelligence gathering will always produce results. Terror without money and fresh recruits crumble and die.

Nigeria is neither patient nor tactical enough in its approach. If it cannot do the job, it should invite mercenaries.

Aliyu Nubu is a public commentator. He writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

By Mallam Musbabu Magayaki

I took this picture after seeing some unidentified gunmen not far away from us on Monday, April 25th, 2022, while plying the dreadful Birnin Gwari-Kagara and Kontagora roads. The road is full of uncertainty about the unavoidable fear of bandits. Fortunately, we arrived home safely (glory to God). Nonetheless, our hearts’ continued to rewind the dangerous nature of the road in a flashback format.

However, after spending a horrendous one-hour journey that looked like an eternity waiting for help, we were escorted by vigilantes and police officers stationed at Udawa-Buruku villages, particularly for travellers, with a fare of N1000 for each car. They would arrange all the cars in a straight line after collecting the charge of N1000 from each car’s driver for him to be part of the convoy. 

As we began the terrifying 30-km journey, the security operatives operating on the road arrived. They told us glad tiding of seizing three bandits’ motorcycles (TVS-like), which they distributed to three groups as a spoil of war: one for the vigilantes, one for the military personnel, and one for the police officers.

While plying, everyone was anxious and confused, saying various forms of supplications for fear of bandits’ retaliatory attacks. But, thank God, despite the dangerous nature of the short journey through the almost impenetrable bushy forest, we arrived safely in Buruku.

We thanked God and hailed the vigilantes who risked their lives to save us from any bandits’ attacks that might have come at us. 

I recommend that the Kaduna and Niger state governments for empowering those vigilantes in their regions with modern weapons. They are genuinely trying, without compromise, to safeguard the lives of innocent travellers. 

Mallam Musbabu Magayaki wrote from Sabob Fegi, Azare.