Banditry

By Uzair Adam Imam

Unknown gunmen Friday launched a fresh attack on Kagoro, a community in Kaduna state, amidst mourning of mass killing in Mallagum-Kagoro, Kaura Local Government Area of the state.

The Daily Reality learned that the incident occurred at night when most people were sleeping.

However, a resident who spoke to the journalists disclosed that the gunmen stormed the community around 9:00 pm.

He added that the gunmen started shooting sporadically immediately as they roamed the community.

A resident who pleaded anonymity said the attackers arrived fully armed and started shooting, forcing people to run for their lives.

He stated, “but thank God there was no loss of life because the military repelled the attackers,” he said.

But no official statement from security agencies or the government has been made when filling this report. 

By Uzair Adam Imam

Birnin Gwari, a community in Kaduna State, rejoiced a visit by the Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday.

The traditional ruler of the town, His Roya Highness (HRH) Zubair Jibril Megwari II, who crowned Tinubu Dakari of Birnin Gwari, Fearless Warrior, expressed his happiness over the visit.

It was gathered that Tinubu became the first presidential candidate to ever visit the ancient town.

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i, who shepherded Tinubu to the town, was also given the traditional title of Sadoki Birnin-Gwari.

“I never thought I would see the APC candidate and all of you here because of bandits and the bad road. We are so happy to see you. Whoever comes here cares for us and loves us. We appreciate you,” the monarch said.

Birmin Gwari is a community ravaged by bandits. Speaking on security issues, Tinubu promised he would frontally confront all forms of criminality in the land if elected.

He also said President Buhari would not relent in his efforts to restore peace to the land.

“We promise you we will work relentlessly to change Nigeria,” he said.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Reports reaching The Daily Reality show that gunmen stormed certain towns in Gombe State on Friday night, leaving three people dead.

Unknown armed individuals assaulted the villages of Amtawalam and Pobaure in the state’s Billiri Local Government Area on Friday night, according to Adamu Kupto Dishi, the commissioner of homeland security for Gombe State.

Dishi confirmed the incident on Saturday following an emergency State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of the state.

“We responded immediately to calls about the attack by mobilising security operatives, including the police, the military and our local vigilantes, to the area. So far, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has carried out assessment for immediate deployment of relief materials,” he said.

Security agents are presently conducting an investigation to identify individuals responsible for the heinous act, the commissioner assured.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Some villages in Zamfara State’s Zurmi LGA have to pay a “compensation charge” of varying amounts.

Aliyu Buhari, a resident of Moriki, one of the settlements in the local council, claimed that the bandits had demanded payment of the levy through released hostages before allowing villagers access their farmlands.

According to Buhari, some villages have paid the bandits and reached a reconciliation agreement with them.

He also noted that people in Moriki are actively striving to increase the tax.

He was quoted as saying, “People living in Moriki ward were asked to pay the sum of N20 million to be able to enjoy some level of peace.”

There have recently been reports of abduction in the state as the bandits have yet to demand a ransom for some of the abductees.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Yusuf Aminu Anka, a law student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has emerged winner of the 2022 Rory Peck’s Sony Impact Award for Current Affairs in London.

Mr Anka disclosed the milestone on his verified Twitter handle on Thursday. 

“I’m honored to have won the @rorypecktrust, @sonyproeurope impact award in the midst of many courageous and important reportings from Afghanistan and around the world. I am extremely happy and proud of the support I receive from family, friends, and colleagues here.” He wrote on Twitter.

Mr Anka made a short documentary for BBC News Africa titled ‘The Bandits Warlords of Zamfara.” 

The award-winning documentary tells the story of banditry and kidnappings in Zamfara and its effects on people’s lives. 

Reacting to the award, Mr Anka said, “Every day, I am reassured that the story of Zamfara is significant not only to us but to everyone who values humanity.” 

The Sony Impact Award for Current Affairs honours the work of freelance journalists in long-form current affairs that examines a single issue, story or situation and has an impact on the viewer, policy or public awareness.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Federal Government announced on Monday that the restoration of train service between Abuja and Kaduna is scheduled for this month, November.

The Transportation Minister, Mu’azu Sambo, said this in Abuja while presenting his ministry’s scorecard.

He claimed that sufficient security had been put in place to guarantee the well-being of the travellers. 

However, the Minister did not provide a precise start date.

The incident in March, which claimed the lives of several passengers and resulted in the suspension of rail operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route, according to Sambo, taught the ministry enough lessons.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Three people were reportedly killed as unknown gunmen descended on Tse-Ikem, Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the incident, which happened twice, took place on Friday and involved a young man while the other one that led to the death of two people took place on Sunday.

A community leader, who confirmed the development to the Daily Trust on the condition of anonymity, said the incident which occurred near Arufu rural town caused pandemonium among the residents.

“On Sunday October 23, 2022 at about 6 pm, Mr Aondona Saai and Mr Avalumun Ukerchia Adaa all of Tse-Igbur in Ukemberagya of Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council ward of Logo LGA were murdered at Tse Ikem on the road near Anawah settlement between Chembe and Anyiin road,” the community leader said.

Solome Tor, the Chairman of Logo LGA, Salome Tor, confirmed the development to journalists in the state.

He said, “On Sunday at about 5 pm, two men on a motorcycle with a lady were ambushed by those who butchered them.

“They (gunmen) left the woman and she ran into the bush, so that was how we were able to know what happened.

“There have been selected killings of people and the target is the men not women per se… we have a high patrol of security agencies. Even on Friday, they killed one young man and burnt his motorcycle.”

At the time of filing this report, the police in the state said they were yet to receive any report about the happening.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from Zamfara indicated that no fewer than 27 people abducted in Bukkuyum and Anka local government areas of the state were reportedly rescued by police.

This is coming after the suspected bandits stormed the named areas and abducted a yet-to-be-identified number of people.

The spokesman of the police command in the state, SP Muhammad Shehu, disclosed this to journalists in the state.

He said the 27 rescued victims were abducted by an armed group in Akawa, Gwashi, Tungar Rogo and some villages in Anka local government.

He also stated that, after their abduction, the victims were taken to camps at Gando/Bagega and Sunke forests in Bukkuyum and Anka local government areas.

She added the rescue of the victims was a sequel to the report received by the Command that a group of bandits had invaded the named villages.

“On receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kolo Yusuf, deployed additional Police Tactical Operatives to reinforce DPOs in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas and vigilantes to rescue the abducted victims.

“Luckily enough, a well-coordinated search and rescue operation was carried out with the full support and partnership of the two local governments’ sole administrators.

“At the moment, 17 out of 27 were brought to the Police Command Headquarters while the 10 other victims are in the hospital receiving medical attention following the trauma they passed through while in captivity,” he added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A woman who regained freedom from bandits’ captivity said her abductors gave her N2,000 as transportation fare after collecting N6 million ransom from her husband.

The woman, Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim, said this when she appeared before a High Court in Zaria as prosecution witness (PW).

She was testifying as PW two at the resumed hearing of the case at Kaduna State High Court 1, Dogarawa Zaria.

Hajiya Fatima recounted, “On Jan. 2, 2021, in the night, I heard some strange noises in the house. As I woke up and switched on the lights, I saw the four defendants with a gun and machetes.

”They wanted to know where my husband was. I told them he was away. They kidnapped me and took me to Galadimawa Forest in Giwa Local Government Kaduna state after they had taken away money, children’s clothes and other valuables from the house.

”They called my husband and negotiated a ransom of N6 million to be paid in two instalments. The money was paid in my presence and the fourth Defendant (Usman) gave me N2,000 out of the money as transportation fare,” she told the court,” she stated.

She added that the defendants directed her on where to board a vehicle that will take her home and assured her that nothing will happen to her.

The police charged the arrested Dalhatu Shehu, Lawal Aliyu-Bullet, Nuhu Ismaila and Nura Usman with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and kidnapping.

The police said the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 59 (1), 246 (a-b) of the Penal Code and section 6 (b) of the Fire Arms Special Provision Act.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from Zamfara State indicate that the police in the state have arrested eight bandits’ informants, gun runners, cattle rustlers and suppliers of hard drugs and foodstuff.

The police operatives also repelled the terrorists’ attacks in Bukkuyum, Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state. 

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this to journalists in Zamfara. 

Zamfara State is one of the epicentres of banditry and kidnapping in northern Nigeria that suffers from several attacks, leading to the deaths and displacements of a number of its residents. 

 He said the operatives also recovered four sophisticated guns, one cutlass and a bunch of charms after exchanging gunfire with the terrorists, who were forced to retreat into the bush.

Following the distress calls by some community members, this resulted in repelling the terrorists’ planned attacks on some communities. 

The suspects are under the state’s police custody, and a thorough investigation is currently taking place.