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Tag: bandits

  • We won’t dialogue with bandits – Katsina gov, Radda

    We won’t dialogue with bandits – Katsina gov, Radda

    Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda says the state government is not ready to call or seek dialogue with any bandit across the state, even as it is ready to accept those willing to repent and return to society.

    Radda revealed this during a special prayer session organised on Thursday in Katsina, by the state government for sustainable peace and unity in the state.

    According to reports, different scholars and Imams from across the 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) attended the prayer session.

    “Our call to bandits, we are not ready for any dialogue with them, but we are ready to accept those that are willing to repent. But, we will not call them or seek dialogue with them,” the governor said.

    According to him, his office is always open, and anyone with useful information that will assist in tackling the security challenges in the state is always welcome.

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    While assuring that the identity of the person will never be disclosed, Radda appealed to the public to assist the government and security agencies with useful information.

    Radda said: “When you go back to your respective communities, you should also copy from Bakori, Dabai and Kurfi, where they have taken measures to depend on their people.

    “The people of these local government areas have been given the security operatives all the necessary support to end the security challenges in their areas.

    “Therefore, you should fear Allah and assist us in our effort to bring an end to the security challenges in our state. We are ready to receive advice and suggestions.”

    Radda added that he had met stakeholders from all the frontline areas in the state to brief him on what they think was the cause of the security problem in their areas and the way out.

    “This effort to end the security challenges in the state cannot be achieved without support from all stakeholders.

    “Therefore, we should fear Allah and provide all the necessary information that will assist in bringing to the end of this problem,” the governor further appealed.

    He also stated that following his appeal, the State House of Assembly has promised to give him the approval to spend this year’s budget on security issues.

    The governor, while assuring to take all the necessary measures in tackling criminal activities in the state, especially thuggery (Yan Daba), he appealed to the people to expose them.

    Radda, who also called for fervent prayers for peace and unity across the state and Nigeria, also called for the inclusion of Niger Republic in such prayers.

  • Troops destroy bandit camps, rescue kidnapped victims in North West

    Troops destroy bandit camps, rescue kidnapped victims in North West

    The Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadarin Daji covering Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara states have neutralised scores of bandits, rescued kidnapped victims, recovered items and destroyed bandits’ hideouts in the ongoing clearance operation in the Northwest.

    A statement issued Friday by the army headquarters, armed bandits attempted to infiltrate and attack Isa LGA of Sokoto state, the vigilant troops deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) responded swiftly and repelled the attack with superior firepower which forced the bandits to flee with gunshot wounds as traces of blood stains were seen in their routes during the pursuit.

    The statement reads: “Similarly, troops of Team 8 of Sector 3 Operation Hadarin Daji deployed at Sabon Birni in Sokoto state conducted clearance operations, discovered and destroyed bandits’ hideouts at Kusabunni Forest, Tafkin gawo, Alumdawa, Ungwar Mailele and Malamawa villages in Sokoto state.

    “However, bandits fled and abandoned their hideouts before the arrival of the troops. Items recovered from the bandit’s hideouts are 3 Motorcycles, 3 AK-47 Magazines and Ammunition.”

    Other items recovered included varieties of pairs of both military and foreign camouflage uniforms including Police uniform and a Radio.

    Also, responding to a distress call on bandits kidnapped activities and rustling of a large number of animals, yroops of Sector 2 in Katsina state swiftly mobilized an offensive operation along the withdrawal routes of the abductors at Kore town in Batagarawa LGA of Katsina state.

    The army headquarters said on sighting troops, bandits fled and abandoned the kidnapped victims and the rustled animals.

    In addition, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in Katsina state successfully rescued four persons who were captured from their farm lands by armed bandits along Ungwan Madugu of Dandume LGA of Katsina state.

    “The victims were abandoned by their captors and fled when the troops in conjunction with vigilantes mobilized to the scene and successfully rescued the victims. The victims have been handed over to their families while the recovered cattle were handed over to the rightful owners.”

     

  • Military has given terrorists, bandits bloody nose – Intelligence chief

    Military has given terrorists, bandits bloody nose – Intelligence chief

    The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, says the Armed Forces of Nigeria has given terrorists, bandits and other agents of destabilisation a bloody nose in various offensive operations.

    Undiandeye said this at the Accreditation of 10 Allied Defence Attaches and Advisers deployed to Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

    He said the Federal Government through the armed forces and other sister security agencies had remained resolute to improve security situation within the country in spite of the lingering security challenges that had existed in the recent past.

    “In recent times, the armed forces of Nigeria has given terrorists, bandits and other agents of destabilisation a bloody nose in our various offensive operations all over the country.

    “I can make bold to state that our resolve has largely paid off as the security situation has largely improved.

    “These undesirable elements are being decimated daily while normal safety is being restored to troubled spots as part of our non kinetic effort.

    “However, hundreds of thousands of terrorists are surrendering to our troops on daily basis. The resultant effect of all this is an enhanced security and safety of our land and our people.

    “A major index to ensure the success achieved is a recent Global Terrorism Index report where Nigeria has moved up in the improved index by two places with significant decrease in terrorist incidents and loss of life.

    “Specifically, 385 deaths recorded so far in 2023  shows a drop so far by 23 per cent from  2022,” he said.

    Undiandeye said military was at the center of the significant accomplishments, saying it was a testament to the fact that the military was poised to sustain its onslaught against all enemies of Nigeria to achieve a safe, secure, prosperous and united democratic nation.

    He said the military, in conjunction with relevant security agencies, contributed significantly to support the democratic processes that led to the success of the recently concluded general elections in the country.

    According to him, the commendations received by the armed forces in this regard are a clear testimony of our commitment to securing the lives and property of our citizenry.

    “In addition, international observers, some of whom are from your various nations, were full of praise to the Nigerian military for its display of neutrality during the conduct of the elections,” he added.

    He said the accreditation of the new defence attachés had further strengthened the already existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the allied countries.

    He assured them that the DIA was prepared to render all possible legal and approved assistance to each and every defense attachés and advisors on diplomatic missions,  in tandem with best global diplomatic practices in line with their mandate.

    “At this juncture, I want to reiterate that the agency remains the link between you, our allied defense advisors and attaches and the Ministry of Defence’s agencies, institutions, establishments, as well as other agencies of Nigeria.

    “We expect that all your communication channels on official matters are channeled through the DIA, specifically through the Foreign Liaison Office for appropriate action.

    “Let me state, for clarity’s sake that you are not allowed to communicate directly with personnel of the ministry of defense or other components of the Nigerian government,” he added.

    Earlier, the Director, Foreign Liaison, DIA, Brig.-Gen. Ojogbane Adegbe said the defense advisors and attaches were from 10 countries which included Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Niger Republic, South Africa, South Korea, Tanzania, Ukraine and finally Zimbabwe.

    Adegbe said the attaches and advisors were allowed to carry out some low-level activities prior to their accreditation that would give them official recognition to conduct their affairs in line with laid down guidelines set out by the agency in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He said that copies of the guidelines and Code of Conduct would be issued to them to help them succeed in their mission.

    The Defence Attaché for Ukraine, Col. Andrii Vasyliev, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said they were excited and looking forward to working with DIA to improve on the already existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and their respective countries.

    He said the accreditation had given them the official recognition to fully discharge their responsibilities as defense advisors and attachés, expressing confidence in the capacity of DIA to help them achieve their mandates in the country.

  • Plateau crisis: Troops eliminate 3 bandits in Mangu, recover weapons

    Plateau crisis: Troops eliminate 3 bandits in Mangu, recover weapons

    Troops of 3 Division Nigerian Army deployed to quell the crisis in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau, on Wednesday neutralised three bandits in the general area.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said the troops obliterated the criminals when they gallantly fought through an ambush staged by the bandits, while responding to a distress call in Mangu general area.

    He said the troops recovered three AK 47 rifles, 14 rounds of 7.62 mm Special rounds, one motorcycle and a Constabulary Police Identity card after successfully clearing the ambush.

    According to him, troops are currently on the trail of bandits who escaped with gunshot wounds during the fire fight.

  • Yerima urges FG to dialogue with Bandits like Niger Delta militants

    Yerima urges FG to dialogue with Bandits like Niger Delta militants

    Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, former Governor of Zamfara State, has emphasized that engaging in dialogue with bandits is the solution to the prevailing insecurity in North Western Nigeria.

    Yerima in an interview with BBC Hausa service on Saturday, said that if the bandits are treated similarly to how former militants in the Niger Delta were handled, the banditry issue could be resolved.

    He said, “I’m advising the government to, first of all, find time to sit with these bandits, just like they sat with Niger Delta militants in the past because the majority of them are Nigerians, even though there are some foreigners among them.

    “But Nigerians among them can be convinced, as the Niger Delta militants were convinced and empowered to stop. If that fails, the government can use force on them wherever they are.”

    Yerima highlighted that previous dialogues with the bandits by other state governors were not conducted in good faith.

    He said he monitored the previous dialogues and discovered that most promises made to the bandits were not fulfilled.

    He, however, appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the new government led by President Bola Tinubu, assuring them that positive changes would be witnessed before the end of his tenure.

     

  • Insecurity: Zamfara govt. denies negotiating with bandits

    Insecurity: Zamfara govt. denies negotiating with bandits

    The Zamfara government says  it has not embarked on negotiating with bandits to address security challenges bedevilling the state.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Nakwada disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Gusau on Tuesday.

    He noted that the present administration of  Gov.  Dauda Lawal had  no intention of reconciling with bandits.

    Recall that there were speculations going round that the state  state government had embarked on secret reconciliation process with bandits.

    “The present administration of Lawal have no intention of  negotiating with criminals.

    “We are prepared to work in collaboration with security agencies in the  fight against insecurity,” Nakwada explained.

    The SSG lamented that the immediate past administration of former governor Bello Matawalle in the state,  wasted  billions of naira on projects that had  no direct bearing on the  common man.

    He noted that the state government would follow legal processes  to recover all misappropriated funds by the past administration.

    He called on people of the state to continue to support government on its policies and programmes toward addressing security challenges and reducing socio economic hardship in the state.

    Nakwada announced  Lawal’s  directives of suspending all permanent secretaries and traditional rulers appointed by the immediate past administration after the 2023 general elections.

  • Zamfara in panic mode as bandits abduct 30 girls kill many

    Zamfara in panic mode as bandits abduct 30 girls kill many

    … bandits vow to make life miserable for local farmers in 2023

    Bandits at the weekend, invaded communities in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State killing many locals and abducted no fewer than 30 girls.

    A survivor told the BBC Hausa Service in an interview monitored on Sunday, that one of the abducted girls who managed to escape from captivity, returned with only her head scarf.

    The bandits attacked Sakkida and Jambako communities on Saturday afternoon, killed over 20 villagers at Sakkida and injured others.

    According to a villager who survived the attack, We woke up peacefully, there was rain and some locals had prepared to go to the farm. Suddenly there was report that the terrorists have attacked a neighboring village, Sakkida. “

    The local vigilante, JTF called the people of Janbako and sought help. Our volunteers and other community members took up arms and. headed to the village. “

    ” There was a hill before you reach the village. Not knowing that the terrorists had laid ambush behind the hills, they opened fire on our people. Today in Jambako, 22 people were buried .”

    “Security operatives were called but they replied that they cannot be able to come immediately because their armoured personnel carrier was not on the ground. They only had Hilux. The security operatives tried, they chased the terrorists. When they came back, they came with motorcycles that belonged to the terrorists,” he alleged.

    ” Many people were injured, some were shot, others were hit with machetes. In Janbako, there was no any security operative stationed there to provide security,” he alleged.

    Another local told journalists that girls were abducted in Gora village while picking fuel wood in the bush at Daggera, adding that last week the terrorists killed 3 locals and abducted another 3.

    Now they’ve abducted our girls, over 30. They send a message that this year if we want to cultivate our farms in Daggera, we must have a truce with them. We’ve been doing that with them, we can’t even count the number of times we entered into such agreement. We don’t know what to do,”he said.

    He said the girls were abducted on Saturday at about noon, adding that among them one was seen running back with only her head scarf.

    He alleged that security operatives were yet to go on search and rescue of the abducted Zamfara girls.

    According to the BBC Hausa Service, the police in Zamfara confirmed the incident but had no details.

    Vanguard

  • Troops kill scores of bandits, seizes several weapons in Zamfara

    Troops kill scores of bandits, seizes several weapons in Zamfara

    Military troops operating under the umbrella of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) have again unleashed their arsenal on several bandits in their dens as they were neutralized while several weapons were recovered in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    It was  gathered that several bandits were killed while others escaped with serious gunshot wounds and their camps destroyed and taken over by military troops.

    The  joint task force troops of the OPHD have again conducted operations and cleared popular bandits camps at Dawan Jiya and Tungar Daji Villages in Bagega District of Anka emirate in the state where they killed many bandits and recovered many weapons.

  • Pandemonium as many feared dead in Plateau community

    Pandemonium as many feared dead in Plateau community

    Pandemonium in Plateau village as many people, including women and children were feared killed as gunmen attacked Kubat village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday night.

    The gunmen were reported to have invaded the community when the villagers were asleep.

    The Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong who confirmed the incident, described the it as a sad development, directing security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure they were arrested.

    Lalong in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Simon, said the governor had equally directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to visit the area and ascertain the humanitarian need so as to bring succour to those affected while thorough investigation was being carried out.

    The Governor commiserates with the victims and assures that the murderers will not be allowed to go unpunished as this is an act that can neither be tolerated or excused no matter the motivation.

     

  • Gunmen kill nine persons, injure three in Southern Kaduna

    Gunmen kill nine persons, injure three in Southern Kaduna

    Persons suspected to be bandits have stormed Ruji and Atakjeh villages of Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State to unleash mayhem on the villagers.

    About nine persons have been reportedly killed in the attack while some escaped with injury wounds.

    Reports have it that a young man was allegedly butchered in Ruji village, while eight persons were also killed in Atakjeh village on Wednesday night.

    The National President, Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), Dr Samuel Achi told pressmen that presently, the situation in Atakjeh village was very tense.

    Samuel said, “Surprisingly, there are security personnel very close to the village where the eight people were killed but they could not rescue the villagers from the attackers.

    “The attackers went to the village and carried out their mission and went away without any intervention from the security.”

    “As l am talking to you, one is not sure of the number of those killed and injured but at the moment, we have eight persons killed and three others injured in Atakjeh village.

    “Those who received various degrees of injuries have been taken to the hospital for treatment,” he lamented.

    The spate of attacks from bandits and gunmen have increased in the last few weeks.