•North on fire ignited by us, Dogara cries out, says ‘we’re now paying for our collective negligence
•How bandits operate
•Allow us carry arms to fight them, Buhari’s kinsmen beg FG
Decades of alleged neglect, political and socio-cultural contradictions have culminated into a crisis situation in the North, threatening the fabric of cohesion and social existence.
With the specter of violence sweeping across the North, it will be an understatement to say the region is now under siege. In many communities, gunmen have continued to have a field day. Agricultural and livestock productions have been badly affected because the peasants involved in such vocation are have been disorganized by banditry and insurgency. The security agents appear to be overwhelmed as the bandits and terrorists seem so daring, unstoppable and destructive. It is against this background that some indigenes of Katsina are appealing to President Buhari to champion the law that will allow ordinary citizens to carry arms to defend themselves.
Some governors, from Kaduna to Katsina, have already apologized as chief security officers of their respective states for the carnage being experienced and also calling for help from the Federal Government. Insecurity of life and property is of serious concern to them. Daily,it has become a recurring decimal, especially in rural parts of their regions, to count losses in human lives and property. It was either through attacks and invasion by terrorist groups code named Ansaru in the Northwest, or by the seemingly unorganized guerrilla fighters of the Boko Haram sect in the Northeast. Contemporary war analysts say the groups now unleash mayhem on this part of Nigeria under the aegis of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, an offshoot of international terrorist organizations with overt sources of funding and undisclosed origin of sophisticated armoury and ammunition. The Ansaru bandits and Boko Haram insurgents, have threatened the corporate existence of Nigeria in their actions and utterances. Till date, they have continued to disrupt the peace previously enjoyed in the guise of enforcing their violent and unacceptable Islamic beliefs on some parts of the country. In the Northwest, the Ansaru militants, said to have taken advantage of the porosity of Nigeria’s borders with Niger and Benin Republics, have infiltrated and turned some neglected forest into their territories. Nigeria, with her landmass, due to alleged outright neglect and, or, complacency by successive governments ,has been described as a country with huge ungoverned spaces.
The submission, wailing and cries of the wife of a local monarch killed by bandits in the ‘Yantumaki community of Kaduna state, summed up the hopelessness and despair ,in many rural folks. “ They came in numbers, wielding dangerous weapons. I heard my late husband reciting prayers from the Qur’an. They shot and killed him….in our presence. Oh Allah!!!! Where is the government? Who will take care of our numerous children? Is this how the government will allow these bandits to be killing us? Oh Allah where is the Government? Where….! “ she screamed amidst sobs in a VOA Hausa report. That was the situation across the North. Some were reported, others only discussed in groups by the affected , often without any attendant reaction as security operatives appeared to lack the capacity and wherewithal to be everywhere. Many still remember how the Bakale and other neighboring communities in Chikun and Giwa Local Government areas of Kaduna state, were turned into a temporary theater of war. At a point, an attack virtually neutralized, an entire community. In the most gory manner ,the daredevil bandits, heartless and determined to inflict a high sense of fear ,had locked up a number of individuals in one room, and set them ablaze. Gory. Just in March 2020, Governor Nasiru Ahmad El Rufa’i of Kaduna state had visited locals whose communities were invaded by bandits. He rendered apologies to the affected and said there won’t be any negotiation with the terrorists. He was firm. The Governor was told by the locals who lost their loved ones in the attack on Giwa and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna state,that casualty figure was over 50. A visibly disturbed El-Rufa’i had said that the casualties could have been more but for the intervention of security personnel on land and in the air. “It could have been worse,” he said. The lawmaker representing the troubled communities in the House of Reps, Hon.Alhaji Ibrahim,has sought the intervention of the Federal Government. He told the BBC Hausa service that the area and other parts of the state were in a state of emergency ,because bandits often killed indiscriminately in the area.”Buhari should come to our rescue, we need Federal Government’s intervention,” he had said. Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state ,was engage the bandits in talks that did not take long to fail. Oblivious of the fact that hardly could terrorist groups with no central leadership keep to agreements ,the rural state was enmeshed in renewed wave of killings. The governor,like his counterpart, had to apologize and admitted inability to protect the locals. As the attacks on Kaduna rural communities heightened, locals in Giwa Local Government might have decided to take their destiny in own hands. Those in Karaukarau village had confronted the bandits who stormed the locality during a wedding ceremony. Ten women who were being abducted were rescued by the villagers. The bandits could have turned them into sex slaves in the thick forests. But three women were not lucky. They were taken by the bandits. The villagers appealed to the authorities to help secure the release of the three nursing mothers. A community leader ,Muhammadu Sani Bakale, told journalists that the gunmen targeted a wedding ceremony in the village,stormed the community on bikes and abducted 13 women including nursing mothers. Speaking in Hausa,he said “ because of the curfew imposed on the state, the bandits were looking for soft targets in villages to get food. They came on Tuesday afternoon and unleashed violence while our people ,mostly women were celebrating a wedding that took place.” “ But when the locals came out in numbers and took arms against the bandits,10 women were rescued. Sadly,they ran away with three nursing mothers,” he said. From Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna,farming communities have become the major targets. In collaboration with local informants,villages in these states were sacked and many were murdered in cold blood principally by the Ansaru wing of ISWAP who still lurch in bushes and caves. Bandits now conceal motorbikes on Camels- – head to different locations One of their Modus Operandi was to cause devastation and carnage. With a good knowledge of bush paths ,they easily navigate and access the rough terrain to change location. Security agents find it difficult to reach such places. Many were not trained in combating guerrilla warfare. For instance,bandits suspected to be ISWAP elements that terrorized some parts of Kaduna state,may flee using bush paths that link the Birnin Gwari forests to Zamfara and Katsina states. “ They were sighted by natives fleeing at night,they were many and looked horrible,” said a local who craved for anonymity. According to him,” they used camels. Perhaps they feared using motorbikes which could expose them to local vigilante groups in nearby settlements. We sighted the camels carrying heavy loads. We believe the bulging luggages on the camel’s backs were the parts of motorcycles.” “ They knew security agents could trail them if they were on motorcycles. They are moving on camels .We are afraid of telling the police,due to unforeseen consequences. But we hope the airforce will look into this matter and try to locate such movements from the sky,” he said. According to the locals,once such fleeing bandits run short of food or other provisions, they launch attacks on villages along the path ways,causing harm to the locals and dispossessing them of their belongings. Formation of Regional Security outfits Such crises have led to the establishment of regional security outfits such as the Amotekun in the Southwest and its fledgling counterpart in the North, Shege Ka Fasa. These,according to concern Nigerians,was a clear demonstration that the Nigerian security apparatus has failed in the protection of life and property. Garkida attack and the deployment of local hunters When the police in Adamawa state explained why local hunters were necessary in the fight against the insurgents who dealt a heavy blow on Garkida town,the news was received with mixed feelings. They said only the hunters who reside in the locality know the terrain. The PPRO of Adamawa State Command, Suleiman Yahaya Ngoroji,had explained that they would only succeed if the locals cooperated and exposed strangers amongst them. “We assure you that we are collaborating with the Army and local hunters to protect life and property of citizens,and to prevent future occurrence of such attack. “The local hunters reside in the affected community. If you really want to know the geography of a place,it’s necessary to work with a native of that place. They will show us all entry and exit points ,”he said. The local hunters,journalists were told,have the spiritual power to disappear when facing danger, apart from a seeming ‘aphrodisiac’ which could make it impossible for any sharp object or bullet to pierce their skin. The attack had displaced residents. One local said: “ Many have fled on foot..even if you have the money,there are no vehicles because of the high number of people on the run ”I had to leave my family behind……everybody is scared because they( Boko Haram) sent a new message that they were coming back. “ We are afraid because there is a route that links us with Guyuk ,Chibok and up to Sambisa. That is why we are afraid of another attack. The last attack lasted from 7 o’clock up till midnight,………they vandalized the town,set houses on fire,razed a hospital and three churches. They killed two security agents……we have no full information of the exact number of the dead among the town dwellers because we all scampered for safety,” he said. However, the PPRO, Suleiman Yahaya, assured that security was beefed up in Garkida “Truly, houses and churches were burnt, police facility and a mini Army barracks too. But Investigation is still on by the police to ascertain the number of the dead.” He therefore, sought the cooperation of the community..to ..report any strange development or strange faces to the authority. Still in the Northeast, although there was heartwarming news of the Nigerian military neutralizing the terrorists in droves, attacks on soft targets are still worrisome. The night attack and subsequent carnage on Auno near Maiduguri was a dark part of history. Worried about these attacks, Inspector General of Police(IGP), Mohammed Abubakar Adamu had assured that all bandits would be smoked out of Birnin Gwari forests in Kaduna state . He said soon,motorists could be able to use that route to Lagos . He said in Kaduna that more trouble awaited members of Ansaru terrorists group and bandits terrorizing Birnin-Gwari . The IGP spoke when he visited the troops injured from an attack on the police operational helicopter in Kuduru village, Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state. Represented by the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Operation, Abdul Majeed Ali, the IGP said “the assault on the terrorists camp in Kuduru was just the first of its kind, assuring that, many others will follow.” “The force lost another injured personnel by name Sgt. Idris on Friday morning. The death of Sgt. Idris brings to two, the number of personnel lost by the force, while 13 others were receiving medical attention at two medical facilities in Kaduna,” he said. The DIG Operation said he was sent by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to see the condition of the gallant troops who were injured during the operation that was carried three days ago. “And am very happy that the injured men are very stable, even the doctor treating them said there is no need to worry as they are responding to treatment. “The Inspector General of Police is very disturbed, but I assure that we will give them the best of treatment as we will see how fast they can respond to treatment “Unfortunately, we lost another personnel which increased the number of death to two whose names are Muhammad Abubakar and Sgt. Idris. “It is a continuous operation as this is not the first one, it is just that this is a very special one because the police have woken up and are equal to the task of fighting every bandit in the country until it is cleared. “Thirteen of the men were injured, four will be discharged today while the rest will continue to be under observation.” He said. The IGP said the Ansaru terrorists have extended their tentacles to Birnin-Gwari and large area of Pandongari in Niger State too. “We have taken note of them for a very long time and we had put a lot of intelligence on them. However, the operation in Kuduru happens to be the first in line up of our operations to wipe out terrorists from Birnin-Gwari. “So, we want to assure Nigerians that, very soon, Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road will be passable and Nigerians will have freedom of movement everywhere.” He said Not long after,the bandits hit Sokoto, killing many. Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state had said that the military tried to counter the attack on communities in the state , but could not reach the affected places due to undulating terrain and bad road . The governor said that where the attack took place was an hour’s journey from the military base in Sokoto state. However, by the time the soldiers were able to reach the communities bandits had already wreaked havoc on communities. It was bad as the bandits had attempted to wipe out a community. Tambuwall said that while the killings were going on,” I spoke with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8th Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto as well as the Garrison Commander and other security chiefs.” “They informed me that the troops on ground in the area were stationed at (unmotorable, undulating terrains of) Burqusuma axis (about an hour’s journey) away from where the attack was going on. However, the troops were quickly redeployed to the attacked area to defend the people” “Before their arrival, some things had happened. Nonetheless, they chased the bandits, who, as they fled, continued to wreak havoc on hapless communities,” he said. North Now Epicenter, Theatre Of Violence The spate of killings has attracted condemnation from all walks of life. Immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara had said that the North has now become the epicenter and theatre of violence and stressed the urgent need to find a lasting solution to the situation. Honourable Dogara who stated this at a Northern Security meeting convened by the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP) to inaugurate the Northern security monitoring committee had emphasized that Nigeria has suffered from Boko Haram ISWAP led by Albarnawi, Boko Haram led by Shekau and Ansaru insurgency to farmers/herders conflict, banditry, kidnapping, ethno religious conflicts, cattle rustling among several others.
According to Dogara who
was the Chairman of the meeting,” We are confronted with a crisis that is
unparalleled in our history. The death spiral appears unstoppable.
Increasingly, it is becoming harder and harder to distinguish us from our
enemies. “ There was no shortage of early warning signs and as a matter of
fact, our philosophers such as the late Sa’adu Zungur of blessed memory had
warned that this dystopian era was fast approaching but we ignored all. We are
now paying for our collective negligence”. He further observed that our
economic debris has become too conspicuous to be ignored, adding that, “as it
is, we are now trapped in a prison of mirrors, where lies are answered
with new lies. With all these, its like our slow motion walk to self Apocalypse
is assured”. “ Violence is taking roots because our leadership model has been
exposed as a lie, an empty ideology used to satiate greed instead of addressing
social inequality and injustice. “ We are running out of time, it is crystal
clear that the North cannot withstand the kind of contradictions that exist
now. The North is on fire ignited by us either by our actions or inaction.
Those who truly love the North must now come out and accept responsibility and
begin a salvage mission, bearing in mind Professor Andrew Haruna’s warning
‘That the North was handed over to us in one piece, we must therefore not pass
it to our children in pieces “ he had said. Resurgence of violence in Katsina
Bandits have over the past few weeks shot and killed a traditional ruler, the
Hakimin Garin Yantumaki, Alhaji Atiku Maidabino in Danmusa Local Government
Area of Katsina State. The bandits, said to to be Fulani herdsmen, raided the
Yantumaki community at about 12:30 am on motorcycles .They found the
monarch’s home, broke into his home while everyone was asleep, and shot him.
The killing was less than 24 hours after bandits also shot and killed the
chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Batsari council area,
Abdulhamid Mamman. The state, like most others in the Northwest geopolitical
zone, has witnessed an increase in activities of bandits in recent months, with
several lives and properties lost in the process. Katsina has suffered frequent
attacks in June ,which made President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the
military to tackle bandits in the state, According to Governor Aminu
Masari of Katsina state,”the military operation had seen military personnel,
including Nigeria Air Force (NAF), go into parts of the forest in the state
where they had never gone before. The operation has recorded some
successes, including neutralizing bandits and recovering of assorted
weapons. I hope the issue of banditry would soon become a thing of the
past.” But the bandits have rather appeared more vicious and have killed more
in the state.
Source:vanguard