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Tag: bandits

  • Bandits have lost rights to live, must be wiped out – El-rufai

    Bandits have lost rights to live, must be wiped out – El-rufai

    Gov. Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State says bandits terrorising Nigeria have lost their rights to life under the constitution and must be wiped out.

    El-rufai made this known during a town hall meeting on national security organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture held in Kaduna with theme:”Setting Benchmark for Enhanced and National Unity in Nigeria”.

    ”The bandits are at war with Nigeria and there is no other way to approach the current insurgency but for security forces to take the war to the bandits and recover forests where they are occupying.

    “The security agencies mostly react to cases of banditry and abduction, we are in a war with these terrorist challenging the sovereignty of the Nigerian state.

    “Our security forces must collaborate to take the war to the bandits and terrorist, recover and restore the forest to enable our law abiding citizens to engage in legitimate farming and livestock production.

    El-rufai stated that no one in a position of responsibility, can deny the need for sustained action, against criminals, adding that security operations that were more proactive would cripple the outlaws and reassure ordinary citizens.

    He said that government must Identify and deal with non state actors and others challenging the existence of the country.

    The governor advised that security forces should be increased and be well equipped to deal with insurgency, adding that judiciary must also be decentralised to serve justice.

    “To address the banditry problem ,we must implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) already produced four years ago to enable accelerated investment in modern animal husbandry on operating rapid decentralization of herders in known locations’’, he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLTP provides a framework and strategic direction to transform the Nigerian livestock sector and eliminate farmer-herder conflict by evolving and strengthening intensive livestock production systems, with the aim of making the sector more productive and sustainable.

    The NLTP prioritises key areas of intervention into a comprehensive framework to modernise and transform the livestock sector into an important instrument for rapid economic growth and diversification in Nigeria.

    The various elements of the NLTP are arranged around five pillars – addressing conflicts, improving access to justice and peace, addressing the needs of affected populations, human capital development, as well as cross cutting issues of gender, youth, research and information and strategic communication.

  • Bandits shoot 8 dead in 4 separate attacks in Kaduna

    Bandits shoot 8 dead in 4 separate attacks in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Government, says suspected bandits have killed eight people and injured four in separate attacks in Kajuru and Kachia Local Government Areas of the State.
    Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner Security and Home Affairs, confirmed the killings in a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna.
    Aruwan said in one incident, bandits barricaded the Kaduna-Kachia road around Kadanye village in Kajuru LGA, and opened fire on a bus, as well as a truck carrying firewood.
    “Five people were killed in the attack while three people were injured and are currently receiving treatment in hospital,” he said.
    He also said that in another incident, the bandits barricaded the Kaduna-Kachia road at the Doka axis and shot at a truck, killing the driver.
    The commissioner further disclosed that bandits also invaded a herders settlement in Inlowo village and killed one person before taking away 180 cows.
    “At Akilbu village in Kachia LGA, bandits shot at a vehicle, injuring two persons, one of them later died in hospital while one person continues to receive treatment,” he added.
    Aruwan said Gov. Nasir El-Rufai noted the reports with sadness, and sent condolences to the families of the deceased, while praying for the repose of their souls.
    He also wished the injured a quick recovery.
    Aruwan said the security agencies were presently conducting operations at identified locations in the general area.
  • Insecurity: Bandits using ransom from kidnappings to fund Boko Haram – El-Rufai

    Insecurity: Bandits using ransom from kidnappings to fund Boko Haram – El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir El-Rufia of Kaduna State has established a strong link between bandits terrorising the North West and the Boko Haram insurgents operating in the North East.

    Governor El-Rufai, stated this on Sunday while featuring as a guest on a monitored Channels Television programme.

    “It has been established that the kidnapping operations (by bandits) are substantially funding Boko Haram activities in the North East.

    “Boko Haram has no way of getting any money and some of them have slipped and joined the ranks of the bandits, and together they are doing this to raise a large amount of money that are being used to fund the intensified operations of Boko Haram,” he said.

    The governor decried that banditry and insurgency have evolved with time into what he described as a business and a structured industry.

    He explained that this was so as the criminals now have various specialised roles within their ranks which enable them to attack communities.

    Governor El-Rufai listed such roles to include informants, petrol suppliers, truck suppliers, food suppliers, suppliers of weapons and ammunition, and doctors who treat insurgents who sustain bullet wounds during attacks.

    He stressed that there was no way Boko Haram could gather money to fund their operations in the North East without the help of bandits in the North West.

    According to the governor, a branch of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) – a splinter of the Boko Haram sect – is assembling in the forest in Birnin Gwari Local Government of Kaduna State.

    He, however, stated that the leader of the group has been arrested and a lot of his commanders have been killed in military airstrikes.

    Asked if the bandits could be tagged as terrorists, Governor El-Rufai said, “Absolutely, no doubt about it. This is a position we have held in Kaduna State as far back as two and half years ago.

    “We insisted that these are insurgents, they are terrorists; they are fighting the sovereignty to Nigeria and we must treat them as such.”

    “The bulk of the money is going into terrorist financing; there is a branch of ISWAP called Ansar-Ur that is congregating in the forest in Birnin Gwari, led by a man and their objectives are very similar to Boko Haram, except that they are not against western education,” he added.

  • After Expiration of 48 hours Ultimatum, El-Rufai Threatens to Prosecute Anyone Negotiating Release of 39 Kidnapped Students

    After Expiration of 48 hours Ultimatum, El-Rufai Threatens to Prosecute Anyone Negotiating Release of 39 Kidnapped Students

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-rufai said he will Prosecute anyone caught negotiating on behalf of government the release of the 39 abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Mando in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

    The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this to newsmen this on Sunday. According to Aruwan the State government has not appointed anyone to negotiate with the bandits for the release of the student.

    This is coming after the expiration of the 48-hour-ultimatum handed down to both the State and Federal Government to effect the release of the abducted students by the parents who protested over their children.

    The parents of the abducted students are reportedly sending prominent people close to the governor to persuade him into entering negotiations with the bandits.

    One of the parents Alhaji Ibrahim Shamaki, whose daughter spoke in Hausa in the viral video released by the bandits died of heart attack last week after days of trauma.

  • Kaduna Govt denies appointing intermediaries to negotiate with bandits

    Kaduna Govt denies appointing intermediaries to negotiate with bandits

    The Kaduna State Government has refuted media reports that it had appointed intermediaries to negotiate with bandits, on its behalf.

    Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, made the clarification in a statement on Sunday, in Kaduna.

    “The attention of the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, has been drawn to reports in the media that it has appointed representatives to interface with bandits on its behalf.

    ”The State Government hereby, clarifies firmly that such intermediaries have never been appointed,” he said..

    Aruwan said the position of the Kaduna Government remained the same and that the state would not negotiate with, or pay ransom to bandits, and “any person who claims to do so in any capacity, if found, will be prosecuted accordingly.

    “Citizens are advice to report the details of any persons posing as official government negotiators to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 and 08170189999, or email internal.security@kdsg.gov.ng. “Aruwan said.

  • Bandits kill two Miyetti Allah chairmen in Nasarawa

    Bandits kill two Miyetti Allah chairmen in Nasarawa

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed the chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Hussain, at Garaku Market Area of Kokona Local Government Area of the state.

    The bandits also murdered one Mohammed Umar, the chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    The Police Public Relation Officer, Nasarawa State Command, Ramhan Nansel, announced this in a statement signed on Friday.

    “On 2/4/2021 at about 1930hrs, information was received that unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani Bandits attacked and killed one Mohammed Hussaini, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Nasarawa State and Mohammed Umar, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Toto LGA at Garaku market.

    “Upon receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bola Longe psc(+) swiftly deployed Operation Puff Adder II personnel to the scene where the two corpses were recovered and taken to the hospital; the corpses deposited at Anthony memorial Mortuary for Post Mortem examination after being confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” the statement read in part.

    The Commissioner of Police who condoled with the deceased families assured that the Command will do all within its powers to bring the perpetrators of the act to book.

    The Police Boss, therefore, called on members of the public to volunteer useful information, he further assured that such information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

  • Insecurity: Zamfara Government releases number of residents killed, abducted by bandits since 2011

    Insecurity: Zamfara Government releases number of residents killed, abducted by bandits since 2011

    No fewer than 2,619 people have been killed in various attacks by bandits in Zamfara, authorities in the state have said.

    The Commissioner of Information in Zamfara, Ibrahim Dosara, noted that the deaths were recorded in the state between 2011 and 2019.

    Addressing a press conference on Friday in Kaduna State, he disclosed that the bandits also abducted 1,190 people from various parts of Zamfara in the last eight years.

    Dosara stated that over 100,000 people were displaced from their ancestral homes as a result of bandits’ activities, while 14,378 livestock were rustled within the period.

    He added that since 2011, the Zamfara State government has spent the sum of N970 million on payment of ransom to bandits to secure the release of kidnapped victims.

    The commissioner lamented that there were more than 100 different camps and over 30,000 bandits operating across Zamfara State and beyond.

    He, however, said the state government’s amnesty programme for bandits would continue in order to secure its people.

    According to Dosara, Zamfara lacks enough security forces from the Federal Government to secure the lives and properties of the people in the state.

    In spite of this, he believes the attacks by bandits in Zamfara have drastically reduced since the inception of the Bello Matawalle administration in 2019.

    The commissioner said the government has put practicable measures in place, such as the peace and reconciliation process and the amnesty programme, to tackle the security challenges in the state.

    He revealed that through the dialogue and peace process of the government, over 62 bandits have surrendered their arms – a development that has led to the release of over 2,000 kidnapped victims with the help of repentant bandits.

    Giving a background of the genesis of rural banditry in Zamfara, Dosara said it started with a conflict between the Fulani and Hausa communities in the state.

    He decried that the recent upsurge in occasional attacks and kidnappings in some parts of the state were being masterminded by some conflict entrepreneurs and informants who connived with the recalcitrant bandits to commit heinous acts.

  • Bandits kill five soldiers, one NSCDC officer in fresh attacks on Niger communities

    Bandits kill five soldiers, one NSCDC officer in fresh attacks on Niger communities

    Seven persons including five military officers and one Civil Defence Officer have been feared killed in a bandit attack on five communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    According to a report by Channels Television, ten other persons were kidnapped with seven motorcycles stolen and military vehicles burnt down in the attack carried out from Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday morning.

    The communities include Allawa, Manta, Gurmana, Bassa and Kokki all in Shiroro council.

    Locals said the bandits as early as 2:00am on Thursday stormed the camp of the Joint Security Task Force comprised of the Army, Police, Civil Defence and vigilantes at Allawa and opened fire on them unaware, killing five soldiers and one Civil Defence Officer.

    Many villagers were injured in the attack and are reported to be receiving treatment at various health centers.

    Confirming the incident, Chairman, Shiroro Youth Movement, Mohammed Idris said the bandits armed with AK-47 numbering about 100 attacked each community for about five hours unchallenged.

    “During the invasion, they killed one Alhaji Sale in Madalla community under Bassa ward and kidnapped four people and went away with two motorcycles.

    “Also in Kokki Boddo a community under Gurmana ward, they abducted six people and took away five motorcycles; five people were also kidnapped in Manta ward,” Idris said.

    Idris then appealed to both the Federal and State government to increase their effort in securing the lives of people at the various communities.

    The Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Abubakar Yusuf Kokki also confirmed that five soldiers and one Civil Defence Officer were killed in Allawa by bandits, who attacked their camp early on Thursday morning.

    According to him, “the criminals took the personnel of the Joint Security Task Force unaware and opened fire on them. In the process, they burnt down the camp to ashes including the operational vehicles and also killed about six personnel (five Army Officers and one Civil Defence Officer) while many others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.”

    He explained that Allawa before the attack was one of the few towns standing in Lakpma axis of Shiroro local government that have not been invaded in the recent past.

    Lamenting the rate of attacks by bandits in the area, Kokki said, “We, the affected victims view this phenomenon from the angle of ethnic cleansing as we have been abandoned to our fate. As a result of sheer negligence from the authorities constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of providing adequate security to the citizenry, there is deliberate efforts by criminals through crude means to depopulate us which from all indications.”

  • Bandits strike again in Kaduna, kill eight, injure four

    Bandits strike again in Kaduna, kill eight, injure four

    At least eight people have been killed and four others injured by bandits in separate attacks in Chikun, Giwa and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna State.

    Confirming the incident on Wednesday via a statement, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said armed bandits shot at the vehicle at Kan Hawa Zankoro, near Ungwan Yako in Chikun Local Government Area, which forced the vehicle to somersault, leading to the deaths of six persons, and leaving four others injured.

    In another incident, armed bandits attacked locals at Iburu village in Kajuru LGA, and killed one person.

    Furthermore, armed bandits invaded Hayin Kanwa village of Fatika district in Giwa Local Government Area, and shot one Alhaji Sule, a businessman in the area to death, after he resisted their attempts to kidnap him.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Kaduna has been experiencing series of attacks by gunmen suspected to be bandits recently.

    Just yesterday, bandits numbering about ten were intercepted at Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road where they were attempting to kidnap travellers.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mohammed Jalige said the bandits were arrested by the police during their attempt to kidnap five occupants of a Volkswagen Golf vehicle heading towards Birnin Gwari from Kaduna.

    Jalige said on receiving the report, the patrol team attached to Buruku Division immediately swung into action, engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, and successfully repelled the bandits who scampered into the forest with various degrees of bullet wounds and rescued all the occupants of the vehicle safely.

    Also on Tuesday, gunmen abducted a Catholic priest in Kaduna State, with the Archbishop of the Archdiocese, Matthew Ndagoso, asking the security agencies to urgently facilitate the immediate rescue of the kidnapped Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Anthony Dawa.

    The gunmen invaded Saint Pius catholic church at Kushe Makaranta, in Kagarko Local Government Area of the state and abducted the priest.

    They also took away the wife and son of the Catechist of the parish and one other person during the operation.

    The incident comes barely four days after eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCC) were abducted by bandits in the Kachia local government of the state.

  • Buhari orders service chiefs to go after sponsors of bandits

    Buhari orders service chiefs to go after sponsors of bandits

    President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has ordered the nation’s service chiefs to crack down on the sponsors of bandits and kidnappers in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Buhari gave the order on Tuesday in a meeting with the service chiefs after which he will embark on a two-week medical leave in the United Kingdom (UK).

    The service chiefs and other heads of security agencies were present during the meeting, where Buhari ordered that the reign of terror unleashed by bandits and kidnappers must be ended immediately.

    The President ordered the security chiefs to identify and crush heads of bandits, kidnappers and their local collaborators to restore confidence in the society.

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, said the president gave the order when he met the security chiefs at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    Monguno, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, quoted the president as warning that his administration would not accept a situation where the security agencies are reactionary rather than being proactive in the fight against insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements.

    “On issues of kidnapping and banditry – these menaces still persist especially in the North West and the North Central zones.

    ”Mr President has stated very clearly that this problem must be brought an end but using the traditional that the armed forces have been trained to deploy.

    ”Mr President has made it very clear to both the intelligence and operational elements that their first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits and kidnappers and take them out in order to restore confidence in those areas.

    ”Mr President has said that he will no longer tolerate a situation where bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tones and he will not also condone a situation in which our own operations are reaction rather than being proactive,’’ he said.

    The NSA also revealed that the president had directed the service chiefs, the intelligence community as well as the constabulary forces to target those agents of disunity across the country.

    He said such people had been creating chaos, disunity and disharmony among peace-loving citizens.

    He said: “I’m also to send out a warning to those people who think they can continue to behave in a manner that undermines national security.

    “Those people engaging in all kinds of underhanded, unscrupulous, mischievous and deceitful practices, people who are working with those that are in government, in particular, critical agencies of government.

    “We have been able to identify certain areas that are weak and these areas have to be strengthened so that these characters who are engaging in acts that you can describe as outright acts of brigandage, people who are behaving in a manner that portends a lot of danger to innocent lives, have to be fished out.

    “This is the directive from the President, I am to send a warning to those people who think they’re in close proximity with those who have the instruments to make the space easy for criminals, those people who think they have some kind of authority, who are engaging in all kinds of Hocus Pocus in all kinds of jiggery pokery or skullduggery.

    “These people will be brought down to their knees.’’

    The meeting was attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieut.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao.

    Others were the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, Director General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufa’s and the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu.