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Tag: Banditry

  • Kogi Rep calls security agents to action over rising spate of armed banditry, abduction, killings in Kabba

    Kogi Rep calls security agents to action over rising spate of armed banditry, abduction, killings in Kabba

    …says it’s painful these bandits made Kabba their target

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Apparently peeved by worsening security challenges in and around Kabba, Kabba-Bunu LGA in the past one week, lawmaker representing Kabba/Bunnu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Hon Tajudeen Yusuf has called on security operatives to immediately act to save his constituents.

    TheNewsGuru.com,(TNG) reports this development has led to the death, kidnap and dastardly attacks on persons, buildings, institutions, farmlands and a church.

    Yusuf called for immediate actions by relevant security agencies, and result-driven strategies that will restore peace and order in the affected communities and their environs.

    While commiserating with victims of these unfortunate and dastardly armed attacks on the people of Kabba-Bunu LGA, wondered why, ” these faceless armed bandits decided to unleash terror, brigandage, and pains on residents of these communities and the entire LGA, who are generally peaceful, law abiding, accommodating, while going about their normal daily activities.

    “It is not only shocking but very painful that within days, the armed bandits turned Kabba-Bunu LGA to their target, unleashing sorrow, grief, pain and wailing on the people.

    “First, it was the gestapo-style attack on the Kabba correctional prison where many inmates were forcefully released. Next was the abduction of three poultry workers in Egbeda; a community in Kabba. Shockingly, these armed bandits last Sunday, attacked worshippers at the ECWA Church in Okedayo, Kabba, leading to death, kidnapping and injuries to innocent people.”

    According to media reports, at the end of the attack on the ECWA Church, Okedayo-Kabba, one person lost his life, two persons, including the pioneer Provost of College of Education (Technical), Kabba, Chief Oshadumo J.O.T, were kidnapped, while his wife, some students and other worshippers sustained gun shot wounds.

    Yusuf explained that, “it is shocking that a group of people with evil minds and devilish attitudes will carry out such cruel, barbaric and animalistic actions on communities and people known for hard work, love, peace and unity.

    “These heinous, senseless, and unimaginable attacks are not only outrightly callous, but also inhuman and clear demonstration of vicious wickedness at its zenith.

    “Indeed, these spate of recent gruesome attacks on communities in Kabba-Bunu LGA, as well as other similar armed bandits operations in other communities in Kabba-Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituency, and the entire Okun Nation, should be serially condemned by everyone.

    “As a result of their activities and operations, the peace loving people of Okun Nation now live in perpetual fear, anxiety and worries. Also, trading and economic activities have been badly, grossly affected. Given the agrarian nature of our communities, people can no longer go to their farms for fear of intimidation, attacks, maiming, kidnapping and killings by these armed bandits.”

    “While acknowledging the efforts of the Police and other security agencies in tracking these armed bandits towards putting an end to their activities in communities within and around Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Hon. Teejay Yusuf charged, “security agencies to evolve more result-driven strategies to arrest the perpetrators of these crimes. Also, our security agencies should be more proactive and ingenious in terms of intelligence, information gathering and operations.

    “Similarly, I call on the Federal Government and the State Government to intensify efforts and increase necessary support to security agencies in tackling and putting an end to the activities of armed bandits in our communities.”

     

  • Security alert : Banditry on the rise in Abuja, FCT Counter Terrorism Desk raises alarm

    Security alert : Banditry on the rise in Abuja, FCT Counter Terrorism Desk raises alarm

    Emman Ovuakporie

    The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Counter Terrorism Desk Office, CTDO, has raised an alarm that the capital city of Abuja is fast becoming a bandit infested territory as it identifies highbrow areas that had recorded incidents recently.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports CTDO identified highbrow areas like Diplomatic Zone/National Hospital, Area 11, Wuse, Wuye and Games Village.

    The anti-terrorism in a release gave a breakdown of the red spots and recent incidents where bandits were moving from house to house in Abuja.

    Read Below Release issued by CTDO;

    “SOME OF ABUJA CRIME HOTSPOTS

    “In the early hours of Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 2.A.M, a block of flats in Highrise Apartment, directly opposite AMAC was attacked by robbers.

    “They were said to have gone door to door, armed with guns, knives and dangerous weapons where they cartered away huge sums of money, and valuables

    2. The bridge before the ship house is a colony of shanties and miscreants

    3. Under the bridge of Bolingo hotel towards the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is infested with deadly criminals.

    4 Under NNPC station towards Wuse Mega filling station before gsm village is a crime spot.

    5. Under the bridge between Area 11 to Unity House before KIA Motors is another colonies of miscreants

    6. The 1st diversion towards the Diplomatic zone/National Hospital from Games village roundabout just by the flyover towards Berger is a criminal den.

    7. Wuye Axis using service lane from Berger roundabout heading to Mashood Abiola National Stadium, has reported series of stabbings, and some incidents deadly.

    While all hands are on deck by FCDA Security architecture to curb crimes and make our streets safe again, we urge road users to be vigilant as they go about their daily duties and to be careful not to keep solo at late night.

    Information sharing is effective security. Crimes lurks in dark corners. Ignorance breeds insecurity.
    Criminals exploit lack of knowledge, and survive through surprise attacks.

    Criminals can not manipulate a people who are abreast with what the government is doing and what the criminals are plotting.

    Therefore, it is in the best interest of the FCT CTDO to keep the public updated on government’s effort against criminal enterprise and keep the public aware of the crime hot spots as criminals try to shift base due to the intensified efforts of the government to repel and dicipate criminals, and make our streets safer again.

  • Banditry: Telecom services shut down in Katsina

    Banditry: Telecom services shut down in Katsina

    Internet and phone communications have reportedly been shut down in the northwestern state of Katsina.

    This came about six days after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed telecommunications companies in the country to cut off phone networks for two weeks in Zamfara State.

    The NCC had said that the move was necessary, “to enable relevant security agencies to carry out required activities towards addressing the security challenge in the state”.

    The network shutdown has now been extended to President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina.

    No fewer than 13 Local Government Areas in the state were affected by the development, reports Daily Trust.

    They are Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Jibia, Safana, Dutsin-Ma, Kurfi, Funtua, Bakori and Malumfashi.

    Meanwhile, the development came about three weeks after suspected bandits reportedly kidnapped more than 60 people during an attack on Rini community in Zamfara State.

    At a recent press conference, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, disclosed that the state government “requested for the closing down of all networks in the state” in order to “ensure the crashing of the bandits

  • Banditry: I’ve no joy governing Katsina State – Masari

    Banditry: I’ve no joy governing Katsina State – Masari

    Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has said that he has no joy governing a state plagued by insecurity.

    Masari said the security situation in Katsina has been giving him sleepless nights.

    The governor made this known during an interview with DW Hausa on Friday.

    Recall that this is coming less than a week after scores of armed bandits on motorbikes blocked Jibiya-Batsari road in Kabobi village, Katsina, after the Juma’at prayers and made away with 11 passengers.

    He said, “In this difficult time and uncertainty, all the issues of governance have been dominated by security matters from sunset to dawn. I receive security reports at any moment through many channels daily.

    “No sensible leader who has the feelings of his people at heart will be happy in such a situation.

    “Governing in this difficult time, I see no joy that people are saying we are enjoying.“

    He added, “In this kind of situation, we are having sleepless nights. You only have a few hours to sleep with your phone beneath your ears and whoever calls you at midnight won’t do that to greet you but to tell you a problem that is happening.

    “People misunderstood us (governors) as people enjoying themselves. Some people are just assuming things and we must not assume what we think is right because if someone is not in the system, he cannot understand the situation.”

  • Media not friendly with bandits, terrorists -NGE

    Media not friendly with bandits, terrorists -NGE

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors on Wednesday dismissed the statement by the National Broadcasting Commission that journalists were best friends of terrorists and bandits.

    The guild said since journalists have a responsibility to help the nation cope with the prevailing threat and consequences of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria, they would continue to be responsible and responsive in their reports.

    The NGE in a statement by its President, Mustapha Isah; and General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, titled, ‘NGE: Media not disposed to giving terrorists exposure,’ said it would never be disposed to giving the bloodthirsty criminals any exposure.

    The NGE was responding to the current directive by the NBC, which warned journalists, television and radio stations in Nigeria against “glamorizing and giving too many details on the nefarious activities of terrorists and kidnappers,” their daily newspaper reviews.

    The NBC had in the order cautioned broadcasters against glamorizing and giving too many details on the nefarious activities of terrorists and kidnappers during their daily newspaper reviews.

    However, the NGE described the directive as a subtle threat to free press, freedom of expression, access to information, and victims’ right to justice, which were essential ingredients for public debate and accountability in a democratic space.

    The organisation said given the consistent anti-media policy of the NBC in recent times, its members were concerned about what the agency meant by the expansive definitions of what may constitute “too many details,” “glamorising,’’ “divisive rhetoric,’’ and ‘’security issues.”

    The statement reads partly, “We hope it is not a ploy by the NBC to ban newspapers review in broadcasting stations because the content of the directive doesn’t specify what kind of conduct would fall within their realm. It is our view that the role of independent, critical, and trustworthy journalism has never been more important than now in our country.”

    The NGE stated that the Nigerian media were aware of their responsibility in the current collective efforts to address the security challenges in the country.

    The statement added, “We must also not lose ability to see that security, in a democratic nation, is not an end in itself.

    “Its single purpose is to protect the capability of institutions, including the media, to guarantee citizens the free exercise of their fundamental human rights, without discrimination.”

    The NGE reiterated that there were no security without free media and free expression, and no free expression and free media without security, saying the two terms should come hand-in-hand and not fight each other in the general interest of the nation.

     

  • Buhari directs 7 North-West governors to end banditry

    Buhari directs 7 North-West governors to end banditry

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi on Sunday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated seven North-West governors, including himself, to end banditry in the zone.

    Bagudu, who is also the Chairman, APC Governors’ Forum, made the disclosure at the continuation of a Fulani Stakeholders’ Peace, Security and Unity Meeting held in Birnin-Kebbi.

    The governor said the president’s directive was to ensure the urgent restoration of normalcy in the region.

    He stated that the President was fully committed to adequately protecting the lives and property of all law abiding and peaceful citizens of the country.

    Bagudu acknowledged the relentless efforts of the military and the other security agencies in tackling the nation’s security challenges.

    He appealed to Nigerians to be less apprehensive in confronting the enemies of peace and unity, saying: “They are a negligible few and we should all brace the odds.

    “The issue of ensuring security in the nation is a collective responsibility and as such all hands must be on deck in this direction.“

    Bagudu also reiterated his earlier pledge to lead the rescue efforts of the abducted students and staff of the Federal Government College (FGC) Birnin Yauri.

    Recall that suspected bandits had on Thursday, June 17 invaded the unity college and abducted some teachers and unspecified number of students.

    However, a military team has so far rescued about 11 of the abductees.

    The governor said: “We were not elected only to stay in the office, but to do anything to safeguard lives and property of all law abiding citizens.

    “We have to do everything to guarantee peace, unity and security even to the extent of sacrificing our lives as ordained by religious scriptures.”

    According to Bagudu, the Fulani stakeholders meeting was called to review the progress made in tackling the challenges with a view to proffering plausible solutions.

    He said his government had set up a steering committee to look into the issues of grazing reserves, cattle routes, as well as resolve lingering contentious issues between farmers and herders as a path to achieving lasting peace and security in the state.

    “Government is fully aware of issues raised, just as it has already started implementing some of the recommendations raised by the committee.

    “No matter the efforts put in by the government, there has to be the understanding and acceptance of those concerned to have positive effect on their lives,” he said.

    He vowed that his administration would leave no stone unturned in protecting lives and property of citizens in the state.

    Bagudu also vowed to sustain ongoing efforts by his administration to improve the lives of Fulanis through livestock and dairy production, Fulani women empowerment as well as enhance other forms of farming activities.

    Earlier, the Secretary-General of the committee set up by government on Fulani matters, Alhaji Abubakar Bandam, said the meeting was part of the ongoing efforts by Miyetti Allah to support the efforts of Gov. Bagudu to address security challenges in the state, especially banditry.

    “The meeting is geared towards joining hands with Fulani elite from all spheres of life and other stakeholders to rescue Kebbi and to support ongoing peace efforts by Gov. Bagudu to bring an end banditry.

    “That is why he chose the former Gov. Saidu Dakingari to spearhead the steering committee, to champion , among other things, provision of basic social amenities to better the lives of Fulanis,” he said.

    On his part, the Chairman of the Committee on Fulani Sensitisation, which was set up by the Kebbi Government, Dr Abdullahi Imam-Shema expressed happiness over the conduct of the meeting.

    He said the meeting was an extension and continuation of the mandate of his committee to reach out to all Fulanis even in their hamlets, to enlighten them, paying particular attention to peace, unity, social wellbeing and education.

    He commended Bagudu for his initiative and unrelenting effort to better the lives of Fulanis in Kebbi.

    He cited the construction of earth dams, grazing reserves and nomadic schools in Fulani settlements as some of the projects undertaken to improve their wellbeing.

  • Drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking more dangerous than insurgency, banditry – Buhari

    Drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking more dangerous than insurgency, banditry – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday rated the danger posed to the country by illicit drugs as worse than those posed by insurgency, banditry and other threat to the stability of the country.

    President Buhari made the assertion as he launched the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), an initiative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to mark the United Nations Day Against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking (2021), in Abuja.

    The President, who was Special Guest of Honour at the launch, also charged the NDLEA to intensify efforts at ridding the vast forests of the Southwest and South-South regions of the country of criminal elements, who had made the places their hideouts, from where they launch criminal onslaughts as well as for farming marijuana.

    Speaking on the danger the menace of abuse of drugs and illicit substances as well as drug trafficking posed to Nigeria, the President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, noted the onslaught is targeting three generations for destruction.

    “The war against drugs is a war that must be fought by all, it is, therefore, my pleasure, to declare on behalf of the good people of Nigeria, a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), not just as a slogan, but a call for civil action for all Nigerians to take an active part in this war.

    “Let me say that this war is more deadly than the insurgency we have in the Northeastern part of the country or the acts of banditry in the Northwest or the acts of kidnapping that transcends all the geopolitical zones of this country, because it is a war that is destroying three generations because I’ve seen clips of where grandparents are on drugs, parents are on drugs, and by extension, their wards, their children are on drugs.

    “So this is a war that It is targeting three generations in a stretch. So it is more deadly than even the security challenges that we are having in this country and I believe strongly that every effort must be put in place to ensure that we deal with the issues of substance abuse and trafficking and manufacture so that we can get to the root cause as ably elucidated by our keynote speaker this afternoon, of the mirage of insecurity problems that are confronting this nation.

    “I believe strongly, with every bit of conviction, that if we are able to deal with the issues of drug abuse, substantial, our security challenges will drastically reduce as we walk towards a drug-free, Nigeria.

    “I once again implore all Nigerians from every strata of life; our traditional institutions, our religious leaders, our local leadership at every level, to be very vigilant and to support this cause and the war against drug that has declared on this day, the 26th of June they 2021,” the President said.

    The President also tasked the NDLEA to swing into action by descending on specific isolated forests in different parts of the country, especially in the Southwest and South-South regions of the country to dislodge criminal elements engaged in plantation of cannabis in these forests, as well as using same places as launching grounds for their criminal activities.

    “I am directing the NDLEA to develop a robust risk-communication and community engagement strategy that will not only disseminate the four pillars of the plan to responsible entities but also deal with destroying production sites and laboratories, break the supply chain, discourage drug use and prosecute offenders as well as traffickers, rehabilitate addicts and enforcement of relevant laws.

    “I want to particularly draw the attention of the agency to the fact that the use of many of our forests as criminal hideouts is because large swathes of cannabis plantations are hidden deep within those forests, especially in the Southwest and the South-South.

    “You may, therefore, need to drive these criminal elements from such hideouts because they use it for the growth of these plants and also as a repository for criminal elements to conclude and plan their adventures on our people.

    “On this United Nations anti-drug day, I call on all families, schools, civil society organisations, professional associations, religious organisations, the academia, community leaders and individuals to work for the common good in order to rid their communities of drug use and trafficking.

    “As your President, I will continue to address underlying causes of drug abuse, including poverty reduction, for which my pledge for lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years and strengthened by the recently developed National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy signposts my unwavering commitment.

    “Finally, I would like to appreciate our stakeholders and international collaborators, especially the European Union, and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Control, for their unwavering support to our drug control efforts, including the development of our roadmap.

    “Also appreciated are the members of the inter-ministerial committee on drug control, civil society organisations, the academia, for their contributions and efforts to our National Drug Control initiatives”, he said.

    Also speak Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, on his part, put the value of cash and drugs seized in the past five months since he came on board at over N90 billion, even as he added that over 2,180 traffickers have been arrested, including five drug barons controlling different cartels across Nigeria.

    He also revealed that a record 2.05 million kilograms of drugs have been intercepted and seized across the country; and 2,100 drug offenders prosecuted with 500 jailed by courts.

    “While the statistics are impressive, we wouldn’t deceive ourselves that we have succeeded in cleaning the Augean Stable in five months. We have only made a head start. We need to sustain the momentum. We need to win the drug war. We cannot afford to be complacent,” he said.

    Marwa said according to statistics, Nigeria is the highest users of cannabis worldwide, adding that revelations from kidnapped victims have collaborated the facts that illicit substances are enablers of insecurity currently plaguing the country.

    “It is not difficult to conclude that drugs have been catalysts of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and various violent conflicts that are currently Nigeria’s albatross.

    “The enormity of the danger of drug abuse calls for an urgent need to nip the problem in the bud. This is the reason we have redoubled our efforts in the past five months with the Maxim of Offensive Action”, he said.

    The NDLEA boss stressed “today, it is a glaring fact that Nigerian youths are involved in drug abuse. Over the years, an undesirable subculture had flourished whereby adolescents and young adults wantonly indulged in the abuse of illicit substances.

    “They not only became addicted to conventional substances such as cannabis and prescription opioids, such as tramadol and codeine, they also experimented with dangerous mixtures leading to novel psychotropic substances such as ‘monkey tail’ and ‘skoochies’

    “In the context of that warped reality, they also normalised the smoking of cannabis as we have seen in some popular music videos and on social media. “High” became part of their social media.

    “So, it wasn’t surprising when research began to give us bleak statistics. The National Drug Survey 2019, for example, indicated that cannabis is the most commonly abused substance by an estimated 10.6 million Nigerians, some of whom started smoking as early as 19 years of age.

    “The Global Drug Survey 2019, also, cited cannabis as the most abused substance with West Africa having the highest abuse prevalence. The World Health Organisation on substance abuse also stated unequivocally that cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Africa, with the highest prevalence, between 5.2% and 13.5%, found in West Africa.

    “Ladies and Gentlemen, West Africa, by implication, means Nigeria.
    He linked the successes recorded by the agency so far to the resolution by officers and men of the NDLEA to clean up Nigeria and make the country drug free”, he said.

    He also said “and in this campaign, we are tackling the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking on all fronts. In addition to the arrest and prosecution of drug offenders, we have worked out intensive drug abuse awareness and sensitization programmes targeting different groups, with an emphasis on youths.

    “In this regard, my administration has thrown the door open to all for partnership in the fight against abuse of illicit substances. It is to this end that we have set up a Special Purpose Committee to involve stakeholders in the cause”, he said.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, urged the President to give nod to the appointment of 10,000 for NDLEA which he said was currently “understaffed”, “underfunded”, and “ill-equipped”.

    Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Hon Francis Agwu, Chairman, House Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, said the NDLEA is using weapons used during the civil war, stressing the need to fight the menace of drugs abuse in the country as all crimes were enabled by narcotics drugs addiction.

    He said the National Assembly was working to amend the Police Trust Fund Act to ensure that other policing agencies like NDLEA benefitted from the pool, adding that efforts would be made to guarantee accelerated endorsement of Mr President after its amendment.

    “If the surge in crimes must be minimised, then we must fight narcotics drugs addiction,” he said.

    Senate President Ahmed Lawan, who was represented by Senator Ezekiah Dimka, Chairman, Senate Committee on Narcotics Drugs, underscored the need for individual and collective responsibilities to achieve success.

    The United Nations General Assembly Antonio Guterres, lamented that the world drug problem remains an urgent challenge that threatens to exacerbate damage impact and to hinder a healthy recovery.

    Represented by the Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe, he urged law enforcement agents to go after the criminals at the upper level of the drug trafficking chain who reap the highest profit and wreck the greatest havoc.

    Guterres said, the 2021 world drug report of UN, shows that death and crime attributed to disorders have nearly doubled over the past decade. He said while new HIV/AIDS infections among adults have declined worldwide but not among people who inject drugs which account for 10 percent of new infections in 2019.

    He said international cooperation has helped to limit the proliferation of new psychoactive substances but the problem is shifting to poorer regions where control systems are weaker, drug sales continue to rise and non-medical use of pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol and Codeine is expanding.

    He added that drug trafficking and organized crime fuel and perpetuate circles of violence and conflicts. Armed groups and terrorists profit from the illicit drugs trade and the economic fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people even more vulnerable to drug crime and illicit drug cultivation.

    Disparities in the access to essential control medicines in low and medical-income countries have further heightened the pandemic. For example, medical practitioners in West and Central Africa in 2019 had four doses of pain medication every day for one million inhabitants while in North America in the same the doses was nearly 32,000.

    He said investing in balanced prevention as well as drug use and drug use disorders produce solid returns in the form of saved lives, healthier populations, improved workforce participation and safety and reduced criminal justice costs.

    Many of the risk factors associated with crime and violence behaviors are also drivers of drug use and targeted efforts focusing on these overwhelming dynamics including childhood maltreatment and lack of support can help to strengthen prevention.

  • Banditry: DSS invites Sheikh Gumi over comments implicating security operatives

    Banditry: DSS invites Sheikh Gumi over comments implicating security operatives

    The Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Thursday invited Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for questioning, VOA reports.

    According to the VOA report, Gumi was invited by the DSS after he alleged that security officials work with bandits to carry out criminal activities.

    Gumi made the allegation when he appeared in ARISE TV on Wednesday.

    The Nigerian Army however rejected the claims of the Kaduna-based cleric, saying that security agents have sacrificed their lives in the battle against insurgency.

    “It is essential to remind ourselves that this same military, being accused of connivance, are the ones who recently put their lives on the line to rescue abductees of the Government Secondary School, Birnin Yauri from kidnappers,” the army explained in a statement.

    The statement added, “While the NA will not attempt to excuse the possibility of black sheep amongst its fold, it must be stated unambiguously that it will not condone any form of sabotage or aiding and assisting the enemy by any personnel.

    In the wake of kidnappings, murder and other terrorism acts of bandits operating predominantly in the northern region of the country, Mr Gumi has become popular for advocating peace deals with terrorist herders

    He has at different times chaired negotiations between the herders and their victims. And recently, he likened the herders to the Niger Delta militants, saying that the herders should be granted amnesty as the militants enjoyed.

  • Banditry: Things are getting worse daily in Zamfara, Gov Matawalle cries out

    Banditry: Things are getting worse daily in Zamfara, Gov Matawalle cries out

    Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle on Saturday said the state of insecurity in the state is worsening at an alarming rate.

    He made the remark after confirming the bandit attack on Kadawa village, Zurmi Local Government Area in a special broadcast on Democracy Day.

    According to the Governor, the bandits killed “many innocent people.”

    “I feel saddened by this unfortunate and barbaric act of cowardice,” he said. “With a heavy heart, I convey my condolences on behalf of my family and the entire people of the State over this massacre.

    “In recent weeks, the act of banditry has reverted to the ugly dimensions it had prior to the coming of my administration. The marauders kill without regard for any rules of sanity. Women, the elderly, and children are not spared. As a result, a large number of people have been displaced in nearly every town in the State.

    “My dear people of Zamfara people, you are witnesses to what we have accomplished from the beginning of our administration, particularly the peace and reconciliation efforts that we initiated and achieved. As a result, we have been able to shift our violent narratives to ones of optimism and peaceful coexistence.

    “Unfortunately, things suddenly took a dramatic turn, and things are getting worse by the day. It is clear that some invincible hands are plotting evil against our people with the goal of making our State as terrifying as it were in the years gone by. My constant prayer is for Allah to reveal those who are perpetrating these cruel atrocities against our people.”

    The Governor urged communities to defend themselves against the bandits while pledging his administration’s commitment to securing the state.

    “I assure you that we will remain steadfast in our efforts to eradicate banditry and all types of criminality from the State,” he said. “In this battle, no sacred cow. Whosoever is involved in these dastardly acts, no matter how highly placed, would be dealt with according to the law.

    “We have demonstrated this commitment based on the actions we have taken in respect of Emir of Maru, Emir of Dansadau and, following yesterday’s incident, the Emir of Zurmi.

    “My administration has resolved to begin implementing the recommendations of the MD Abubakar-led Committee on Finding Solutions to Banditry in Zamfara State as a next step in addressing this vexing problem. We would not spare anyone indicted by the committee’s report, no matter how high up they are.”

  • FG boasts: We’ve capability to tackle banditry, kidnapping, other crimes

    FG boasts: We’ve capability to tackle banditry, kidnapping, other crimes

    The Federal Government on Tuesday avowed that it is confident in the ability of Nigeria’s security forces to tackle the security challenges bedeviling Nigeria, whether it is terrorism, banditry, kidnapping or even the farmer-herder conflict.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government is not overwhelmed with the escalating insecurity in the country.

    Mohammad, who spoke at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, also said the government and its security agencies have the wherewithal in terms of personnel and fire power to crush bandits, insurgents, criminals and other enemies of the Nigerian state.

    He said, “It is no longer news that our dear nation is facing security challenges. However, I have read comments saying the Federal Government is overwhelmed and doesn’t have a clue as to how to tackle the challenges. Some have even gone as far as suggesting a truncation of the democratic order, a clearly treasonable stance.

    “Well, I am here today to assure all Nigerians that while the government acknowledges the security challenges we face at this time, from terrorism to kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflict, it is definitely not overwhelmed and indeed it has the wherewithal, as you will see in the days ahead, to confront the challenges headlong and restore law and order, peace and security.”

    Continuing, the minister said, “One of the most difficult things to do, for a democratically-elected government, is to use the instruments of coercion against its own people. For example, while the nation’s military have superior firepower over the rag tag band of Boko Haram and ISWAP, the terrorists most often than not operate among the populace, either in our villages or towns, hence the military, in tackling them, is usually careful to avoid collateral damage. The same applies to the kidnappers who abduct our school children.

    “Usually, the location of the kidnappers is not unknown to the security forces, but they still have to exercise caution in order not to hurt the same children they are trying to rescue. Despite these inhibitions, the security forces have the wherewithal to decisively tackle the challenges.”

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the government retains total confidence in the ability of our security forces to tackle the security challenges we are facing now, whether it is terrorism, banditry, kidnapping or even the farmer-herder conflict.

    “We therefore appeal to all Nigerians to continue to support our security agencies, who today face the added task of having to watch their backs while working to protect us. The least we can do is to give them our unalloyed support,” he added.