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Tag: bandits

  • Bandits free 65 Baptist Church members, others kidnapped since October in Kaduna

    Bandits free 65 Baptist Church members, others kidnapped since October in Kaduna

    About 65 members of the Baptist church and others who were kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna state have been freed by their abductors.

    The victims were kidnapped by bandits on October 31 when they invaded the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kakau Daji in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The bandits killed two of the captives a few days later.

    On Saturday, the victims including women, men and children were brought to the Albarkar Baptist Church in the Kaduna state capital after their release and were reunited with their families.

    A relative of one of the victims they paid ransom to secure their release.

    Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the victims were handed over to the state government by the military for an onward reunion with their families.

    He also said that the victims, upon their release, were taken to the hospital by the military for a post-trauma evaluation.

  • Bandits kill two, kidnap 20 in another attack on community

    Bandits kill two, kidnap 20 in another attack on community

    At least two people have been killed and over 20 others abducted by bandits who attacked Unguwan Gimbiya community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The assault took place in the early hours of Friday. Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige said the bandits stormed the community at about 1 am.

    According to Jalige, the gunmen opened fire while the residents were still asleep, shooting sporadically, killing two people in the process.

    He also stated that the bandits later took away 20 residents of the community before the arrival of security operatives.

    The police spokesman further disclosed that a combined team of security operatives have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers with a view to rescuing the kidnapped victims and arresting the criminals.

  • Police arrest suspected ‘errand boy’ to bandits in Kaduna

    Police arrest suspected ‘errand boy’ to bandits in Kaduna

    Police on Tuesday said they have arrested a suspect for allegedly serving as “errand boy” to some bandits in the Northeast and North-Central parts of the country.

    Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja.

    He said the suspect was arrested on Nov. 10 in Saminaka, in Kaduna State while conveying 250 rounds of live ammunition and five AK 47 magazines to some bandits in Niger State.

    “The suspect works with some bandits and his task is to ferry weapons from suppliers to the bandits.

    “He operates with a Volkswagen Golf 3 Salon car, bought for him by one of the bandits with agreement that he will take ownership of the car upon delivery for weapons five times,” he said.

    Mba said efforts were being intensified by operatives to arrest all suspects in connection with the deal.

    He said six suspected members of a car robbery gang had also, been arrested by operatives of the Police Special Tactical Squad (STS).

    According to him, the suspects work in a coordinated manner, steal cars from different parts of Nigeria and smuggle them to Niger Republic.

    He said the gang has a standby buyer in Niger Republic who works on the cars, if necessary and maintain them for more economic value before sending them back to Nigeria for sale.

    He added that the car buyer in Niger Republic is also, a dealer in weapons and so, pay for the cars either in cash or exchange them with weapons.

    According to him, the Nigeria Police is working with the INTERPOL to ensure the arrest of the suspect in Niger Republic.

    He said the suspects were among the 32 suspects arrested by the police over banditry, homicide, unlawful possession of weapons, trafficking in drugs and other heinous crimes.

    He said 19 AK-47 riffles, three revolver pistols, two G-3 rifles, one sub-machine gun, one general-purpose machine gun and different types of knives were recovered from the suspects.

    Mba added that other items recovered from the suspects were 17 vehicles of different types and a total of 453 rounds of live ammunition.

  • Normalcy restores to Abuja-Kaduna highway as Buhari talks tough

    Normalcy restores to Abuja-Kaduna highway as Buhari talks tough

    Normalcy has been restored to ”bandit-infected” Abuja-Kaduna highway following President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to deal mercilessly with highway criminals across the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prior to the presidential order, bandits had operated along the Abuja-Kaduna road for four consecutive days where they abducted an unspecified number of travellers on the highway.

    Buhari had in the week under review, again directed security agencies to urgently address the resurgence of kidnapping and other crimes on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and on other roads across the country.

    The president, who presided over meeting of the National Security Council on Nov. 25, assured that Nigerians would soon witness serious security improvement as specific orders had been given to all security agencies to tackle security challenges across the country.

    However, following the presidential order, the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with other security agencies, recorded a breakthrough as many bandits including a notorious bandit terrorising Kaduna-Abuja Highway, Yellow Magaji Arusa were neutralised.

    A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kaduna State Command, ASP Muhammed Jalige on Saturday, confirmed the killing of Magaji alongside some members of his gang.

    The police killed Magaji when they raided a facility known as Sir Joe Guest Inn, located at No.8 Sajo Street, Unguwan Maigero Area of Sabon Tasha in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    “It is significant to state that the neutralised bandit Yellow Magaji until his demise was among a syndicate of bandits terrorising Kaduna-Abuja highway of recent,” Jalige said.

    The security officials were also reported to have ambushed some of the bandits around Kaduna South Local Government Area where the bandits had gone to buy “alcohol and pentazocine; an opioid pain medication’’.

    Buhari had earlier declared open the 9th General Assembly of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), on Monday in Abuja where he raised alarm over the activities of insurgents and bandits across the African continent, saying such activities had led to more widespread displacement and poverty.

    He said: “It is not in doubt that women and children are the worst affected by the breakdown of peace.

    “Therefore, as mothers, I believe, you are in a better position to drive the processes of peace and actions where necessary.

    ”Indeed, I’m happy to know that your forum has been working towards promoting peaceful coexistence within the continent in so many ways.’’

    The Nigerian leader, however, pledged support to the resolutions of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) aimed at promoting peace and development in the continent.

    Also on Nov. 22, the president approved February 2022 as new date for the National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, confirmed this development to State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    NAN reports that the meeting was also attended by the Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, who is also the governor of Yobe, as well as Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa.

    Bagudu, who was not specific on the exact date for the convention in February, said the convention was shifted because four states were yet to complete their congresses.

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, also met behind closed doors with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Nov. 22.

    Lawan, who spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, expressed the hope that the president would soon sign the recently-passed Electoral Amendment Bill 2021 into law.

    NAN also reports that some governors had expressed their reservation about direct primaries as contained in the Electoral Amendment Bill 2021, urging the president not to sign it into law.

    The senate president, however, maintained that the National Assembly had done its job by transmitting the passed bill to the president for him to sign into law.

    On Nov. 23, Chief Executive Officer of the Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, and the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, were officially presented to Buhari by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva.

    Ahmed and Komolafe, who addressed State House correspondents after the presentation, reassured that there were no plans to increase the official price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for now, as being speculated in some quarters.

    Ahmed maintained that the marginal queues witnessed last week at filling stations in Abuja and some parts of the country, had nothing to do with any supposed plan by government to hike PMS price.

    He, however, explained that the queues were caused by the payment logistics in US dollars by depot owners, and the issue had been addressed by relevant authorities.

    Also addressing the correspondents, Sylva said the president was happy with the level of implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

    According to him, Buhari urged the regulators in the petroleum industry to do what is best for Nigeria.

    On the recent increase in the price of cooking gas in the country, the minister said “the president is worried over the situation just like all other Nigerians.”

    Sylva said although the price of the essential commodity was not regulated by Nigeria, some steps would be taken internally to provide some relief, ahead of the yuletide season.

    The president, on Nov. 24, shortly before the commencement of the virtual meeting of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja, led the cabinet members in wishing his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari a happy 77th birthday celebration.

    The president congratulated Gambari on the attainment of age 77, and jovially saying “you are still going strong, congratulations!”

    The ministers present chorused with laughter, expressing their birthday good wishes to Gambari.

    Gambari, who joined the government as Chief of Staff following the demise of the former holder of the office, Abba Kyari, is the founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, a non-governmental “think-tank” established in Abuja.

    NAN reports that the Council meeting approved April 2022 as official date for the commencement of the operations of much-awaited Nigeria Air.

    The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, disclosed this when he along with Ministers of Transportation, and Finance, Budget and National Planning, Rotimi Amaechi and Dr Zainab Ahmed, respectively, briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting.

    According to Sirika, majority shares of 49 per cent of the Nigeria Air project will be owned by strategic equity partners, 46 per cent by Nigerians, while the Federal Government will own five per cent of the shares.

    The minister revealed that the council also approved N1.49 billion for the provision of Automated Civil Aviation Regulatory Equipment to be located at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

    Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, said she presented to council for information and discussion the third quarter GDP report for 2021.

    On his part, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, also revealed that he presented a memorandum to the cabinet for approval for the award of contract for the provision of training logistics, operational equipment and maintenance support for government under the Integrated National Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solution Infrastructure in Nigeria.

    On Nov. 25, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo hosted the outgoing UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, at the Presidential Villa, where he opined that elected leaders should regularly aspire to meet with the electorate.

    Osinbajo said that constant engagement with the electorate on justice, peace, security, and social contract could not be allowed to fall through the cracks as they were critical issues.

    “You cannot avoid engaging with the people; there is need to engage in a way that you are trusted. People should see that you are committed enough about their concerns,’’ he added.

    The vice-president had also participated in the 2021 LCCI Presidential Policy Dialogue on Friday in Lagos.

    Buhari had on Friday bid farewell to Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Abhay Thakur, and his Italian counterpart, Dr Stefano Pontesilli, during the week under review..

    He wished the outgoing High Commissioner well, as he assumed higher responsibilities in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of his country.

    Also receiving Pontesilli, the president said that having spent nine years in all, in two different capacities in Nigeria, “you know our country very well”.

    He wished him a successful tour of duty at his next posting, which is Guinea-Conakry.

    NAN reports that Pontesilli was first Consul-General for his country in Lagos for four-and-a-half years and later ambassador for the same length of time.

    The president concluded the week with a greeting to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on his birthday, having attained the age of 75 years.

    He said: “Happy birthday and best wishes to Waziri Atiku Abubakar. I wish you good health and long life.”

    The president also congratulated the former military Governor of Kano State, retired Col. Sani Bello, who celebrated his 79th birthday on Saturday.

  • FG reacts to court’s proscription of bandits as terrorists

    FG reacts to court’s proscription of bandits as terrorists

    The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami on Friday said the Federal Government will follow international standards in fighting banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities in the country.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja had earlier proscribed bandit groups as terrorists, specifically noting that the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups, constitute acts of terrorism.

    The ruling followed an ex parte motion the Federal Government filed through the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    Malami in a statement by his media aide, by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to crush banditry.

    He said the government’s commitment has remained unwavering following the recent court ruling that designated bandits’ groups as terrorists’ organisations.

    According to him, the declaration is a demonstration of the determination of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and indeed the Federal Government in doing things in accordance with the rule of law.

    “The development is a pointer to the commitment of the Federal Government to adhere to the international standards in respecting the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism, separatists’ organisations, insurgency and banditry in the country,” Malami was quoted as saying.

    By the declaration, Malami said the Muhammadu Buhari administration has taken bold steps to deal ruthlessly with all terrorist groups and their sponsors in order to bring a lasting solution to the myriad of insecurity challenges in the country.

    In achieving peace across the country, he explained that there would be a collaboration with relevant government agencies including security operatives to do the needful to take full advantage of this declaration.

    The Minister also said the government will gazette and publish the proscription order.

  • Declaring bandits as terrorists won’t change anything – Sheikh Gumi

    Declaring bandits as terrorists won’t change anything – Sheikh Gumi

    Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has described the declaration of bandits as terrorists as a decision taken for mere political expediency, which will not change anything.

    According to him: “I think the Federal Government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country. It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration they are being fought and treated as terrorists.”

    In a statement by Malam Tukur Mamu, the Dan-Iyan Fika and Media Consultant to Sheikh Gumi, the Muslim scholar said: “So it’s just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on ground.

    “If you can remember IPOB was also declared a terrorist organisation, the declaration was even backed by the order of the Court but as you can see even the international community did not recognise FG’s declaration of IPOB. So it has failed to be effective or to achieve the desired results.”

    “They have not been ban from travelling to other countries while their citizenship remains intact, it has not been denounced. So what type of declaration is that?

    ” I sincerely hope that Nigerians will not take the herdsmen as terrorists but should regard the criminality of the few among them against innocent people as acts of terrorism just as we see IPOB and their attacks on security agencies and other northern citizens as acts of terrorism. Very few herdsmen are bandits if you go through their population.”

    “I hope this declaration will not give the license to people to be profiling herdsmen in general as terrorists and taking laws into their hands against them. It will cause more mayhem.

    “The declaration will not change anything, it will not change the dynamics. Already the military is engaging them. It didn’t stop them from kidnappings and killings. The declaration will not end their aggression against the society.”

    He added: “The Fulani banditry is a socio-economic problem. We have seen it, we interacted widely with them. We told the federal government the way out. It can only be won through engagement, dialogue and justice. That is why today there is relative peace in the Niger Delta because government have accepted the painful reality of rehabilitating and empowering them.”

    “There has to be equitable distribution of wealth in Nigeria and justice for every one. People don’t want to accept it, before the issue of banditry that now affects all of us, the Fulanis have suffered so much.”

    “They have lost their legitimate means of livelihood, I mean their cows through cattle rustling and extortion by security agencies. That has to be addressed as a means of genuine reconciliation and integration. They should have sense of belonging.”

  • Court proscribes two terror groups, declares bandits as terrorists

    Court proscribes two terror groups, declares bandits as terrorists

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has outlawed the activities of some groups linked to banditry and declared their activities as acts of terrorism.

    In a ruling yesterday, the Abuja court specifically declared the activities of the “Yan Bindiga Group” and the “Yan Ta’adda Group” and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the Northwest and Northcentral geo-political zones, as “acts of terrorism and illegality”.

    It equally proscribed the Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group as well as other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially in the Northwest and Northcentral geo-political zones, “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called.”

    The court restrained “any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group under any other name or platform however called or described.”

    The court ordered the Federal Government to publish the prosecution order in the Official Gazette and two national dailies.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo gave the orders in a ruling after listening to Aminu Kayode Alilu, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, who argued the motion ex-parte filed by the Federal Government to that effect.

    Justice Taiwo said he was convinced that such orders were necessary in view of the nefarious activities of bandits and their effects on the people and the nation’s economy.

    The judge also proscribed all other groups in the country, irrespective of their names, but whose activities and objectives are similar to those of Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group.

    Justice Taiwo listed terror activities to “include, but not limited to banditry, kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”

  • Zamfara: 95 students, 449 others rescued from bandits in three months – Matawalle

    Zamfara: 95 students, 449 others rescued from bandits in three months – Matawalle

    No fewer than 544 people abducted by bandits in the last three months have been rescued by security operatives in Zamfara State, authorities have said.

    The state governor, Bello Matawalle, disclosed this on Friday at an event held at the Government House in Gusau, the state capital.

    He explained that the victims, who included 95 students, were those rescued from bandits since the government announced a set of stringent measures on August 27 to further curb the activities of bandits troubling the peace in the state.

    A breakdown of the figure shows that 18 are students of the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bakura, 75 students are from the Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, while the remaining two are students from the Federal Government College in Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State.

    The security measures, Governor Matawalle explained, are intended to give security personnel the leeway in fighting bandits and the government’s action is progressively yielding results within the short period of time under review.

    He also disclosed that the security operatives have arrested many suspected bandits and their collaborators across the 14 local government areas of the state, as well as intercepted a large cache of alcoholic drinks and hard drugs meant for the criminals.

    “The new measures are taking much (toll on bandits), especially the shutting down of mobile telecommunications network for public security and safety which are the primary objective of a responsible government,” said the governor.

    He, however, cautioned residents against taking the laws into their hands – even in an obvious breach, saying the government would no longer condone the wanton killing of people in marketplaces, as was the case in the past.

    “Anybody caught breaking this rule will face the appropriate wrath of the law,” Governor Matawalle warned. “I, therefore, call on vigilante groups and concerned individuals to follow the rule of law and due process in addressing any issue that might arise in such situations.”

    He commended the security personnel operating in Zamfara for their efforts in dislodging bandits and their informants, as well as destroying their hideouts.

    The governor also thanked the residents for their cooperation and support to the military exercises and government programmes and project aimed at taking the state to greater heights.

    He called on traditional rulers and other community leaders to ensure that the new measures were monitored and tailored to success, to ensure a further relaxation in due course.

    At the event, Governor Matawalle swore in two new commissioners, 10 special advisers, eight permanent secretaries, and the newly appointed Auditor-General for the state.

    He asked the new officials, who were subjected to swearing with the Holy Quran dissociating themselves from banditry, to play their part in ensuring the return of peace to the state.

    The governor also announced the re-opening of selected markets in the state – all livestock markets in Gummi, Bagega, Danjibga, Kasuwar Daji, Tsafe, Talata-Mafara, and Nasarawar Godel.

  • Police confirm nine killed in fresh bandits’ attacks on Sokoto villages

    Police confirm nine killed in fresh bandits’ attacks on Sokoto villages

    No fewer than nine persons have been killed in a fresh attack on three villages in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State by bandits.

    The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the development on Thursday.

    Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sanusi, said the victims were killed in separate attacks that took place from November 15 to 17.

    He said the first attack which took place at Garin Zago in Sabon Birni local government, resulted in the death of three persons and three others were kidnapped.

    According to him, a vehicle was attacked in another attack in Gaji village on November 16, but no casualty was recorded.

    The police spokesman said another attack took place on the 17th of November, at Sangirawa village where six persons were killed by the assailants and several others injured.

    Based on the findings of the police personnel on the ground in the local government, Sanusi said the three attacks resulted in the death of nine persons contrary to the figures been circulated by different sources.

    Despite the figures released by the police authorities, sources allege that 21 persons were killed at different locations within the local government area.

    A former chairman of the local government area, Idris Gobir said the bandits killed eight persons in Sangirawa village, four in Sabindawa and an additional three in Garin Gado village.

    Gobir added that three were also killed in Gaje village, three in Gaju village and additional three others in Garin Zago with several others injured.

  • Gov. Tambuwal confirms 43 deaths in Illela’s bandits attack

    Gov. Tambuwal confirms 43 deaths in Illela’s bandits attack

    Sokoto State’s Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Thursday confirmed the killing of 43 persons in Monday’s bandits attack on Illela Local Government Area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Muhammad Bello, on Thursday in Sokoto.

    Bello said Tambuwal led members of the state’s executives and the Security Council, as well as other top government officials on a condolence visit to the people of Illela on Wednesday.

    Illela is a border town, 97 kilometres from the state capital and has been experiencing pockets of bandits’ attacks lately.

    According to Bello, marauders attacked the town and some villages near it in the wee hours on Nov. 15 killing 13 persons in the first instance.

    “At the time of the governor’s visit on Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 43,’’ he stated.

    Bello explained that the village head of Kalmalo, one of the five villages affected in the midnight attack was wounded.

    Other villages affected were Munwadata, Sarma, Runji and Masasa.

    He added that Gov. Tambuwal told the people of Illela that the government and people of Sokoto State felt their grief and extended their condolences.

    “This is not a small occurrence. It is upsetting. This incident really touched us,’’ he quoted Tambuwal as saying.

    Bello stated that Tambuwal commended the local government authority, traditional rulers and community leaders for their lawful composition of a volunteer group to work with security operatives in the area.

    He added that the governor assured that the state government would constitute join operations of volunteers who would work under the supervision of security agencies to enhance security in the area.

    The governor appealed to the people not to be daunted by the attacks.

    “Instead, this should motivate you to redouble your efforts without seeking revenge in securing your communities,’’ Bello also quoted Tambuwal as saying.