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Tag: bandits

  • We are coming after you, Air Chief warns bandits

    We are coming after you, Air Chief warns bandits

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Isyaka Amao, has assured Nigerians of the readiness of the military to deal decisively with bandits, kidnappers and other criminals across the country.

    Amao who was on operational visit to the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna, said on Wednesday that the military would deal with all criminals terrorising the people.

    During the maiden operational visit, the CAS also paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

    “Our officers and men are ready for the battle against bandits and kidnappers,” he said, adding that the visit was mainly to assess the operational readiness of the personnel.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the military to ensure that people go freely to their farms during the rainy season without any security threat.

    “We are working towards that in synergy, the platforms are ready for the operations and we are liasing with the Army and other ground troops for the operations.

    “My message to bandits is that we are coming after them together with the Army, Navy and other security agencies to make sure the they are flushed out of the country”, Amao said.

    He stated that the welfare of the NAF personnel would be accorded full priority, to ensure motivation and deligence in the discharge of their duties.

    “Welfare entails providing the personnel with equipments, conducive training environment and where they live and to make sure they are given their entitlements”, he said.

    The CAS, therefore, charged the personnel on loyalty, dedication and discipline in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

    Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, AVM Jackson Yusuf said the visit would be a morale booster to the command and would ensure more successes in the fight against insecurity.

  • Insecurity: I will never preach, negotiate with bandits in Kaduna, El-Rufai insists

    Insecurity: I will never preach, negotiate with bandits in Kaduna, El-Rufai insists

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has reiterated his administration’s stance not to negotiate with bandits, saying that his job as governor is to enforce the law and help prosecute people who commit offences.
    El-Rufai restated his government’s position during an expanded meeting of the State Security Council on Tuesday in Kaduna.
    The meeting was attended by government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and people from professional associations, trade unions and civil society groups.
    “We will not engage with bandits or kidnappers. Private citizens like clerics and clergymen can do so in their individual capacities, to preach to them and ask them to repent.
    “We also want them to repent but it is not our job to ask them to do so,’’ he said.
    According to him, the best way to solve the farmer-herder clashes, cattle rustling and banditry is for nomadic herdsmen to live more sedentary lives.
    This, he added, would make them more productive and enable them to give their children education and access to better healthcare.
    The governor argued that nomadic or transhumance cattle breeding had been rendered obsolete by urbanization and population growth as most of the cattle routes had been taken over by development.
    El-Rufai said that the state was implementing a large ranching project at Damau Grazing Reserve in Kubau Local Government, which will make about 1,500 herdsmen sedentary.
    He explained that the project would enable the herders to raise their cattle in a facility with pasture, school and Primary Health Centre, with a commercial partner ready to buy their milk.
    The governor commended security agencies for their efforts to keep Kaduna state residents safe, in spite of the challenges they are facing.
    El Rufai called for decentralisation of the police force, pointing out that Nigeria is the only federation that operates a unitary police force that is funded by state governments but not controlled by them.
  • Police redeploy DPO for allegedly fraternizing, conniving with bandits in Zamfara

    Police redeploy DPO for allegedly fraternizing, conniving with bandits in Zamfara

    The Zamfara Police Command has redeployed its Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kaura-Namoda, following allegations of fraternizing and conniving with bandits terrorizing the area.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, stated this in a statement made available to journalists, in Gusau, on Monday.

    Shehu said, “the attention of the Zamfara State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video trending on social media platforms wherein the communities of Kungurki village, in Kaura Namoda LGA, accused the DPO of Kaura Namoda Division of conniving with recalcitrant armed bandits who were making life unbearable for the people.

    “Available records at the command revealed no formal complaint against the DPO in respect of the allegation.

    “However, the command enjoins members of the public, especially the aggrieved community, that any person or group with credible evidence against the DPO, should come to the Police Command Headquarters and assist in the ongoing investigation.

    “The DPO, as a custodian of peace and tranquility, has the mandate to interact and engage with the two warring Hausa and Fulani bandit communities to a dialogue so as to strengthen the ongoing peace process of the state government,” he said.

    He, however, stated that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abutu Yaro has immediately redeployed the DPO to the Police Command Headquarters as OC Provost, while ASP Umar Abdullahi has been appointed as acting DPO of the Division.

    Shehu called on members of the public with credible evidence against the former DPO to contact the acting DPO through his phone number, 08162793939.

  • [UPDATED] Kaduna school attack: Bandits spare pupils, kidnap teachers instead

    [UPDATED] Kaduna school attack: Bandits spare pupils, kidnap teachers instead

    The Kaduna State Government said only three teachers from the Rema Primary School, Magajin Gari Ward 2, of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State were kidnapped Monday morning has called following the attack by armed bandits at school.

    In Press briefing on Monday, Commissioner of Internal Security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan told journalist that the State Government has compiled and analyzed all the security reports and can confirm that there was indeed an invasion by gunmen but only three teachers, namely; Rabiu Salisu, Umar Hassan, and Bala Adamu have been kidnapped.

    “Pupils who had just arrived the school to begin the day’s activities, took to their heels in the course of the commotion, as the bandits invaded the premises on motorcycles. This led to two pupils going missing, identified as Ahmad Halilu and Kabiru Yahaya.” Aruwan said.

    “However, we are happy to inform you that the two missing pupils have been found. We can also confirm that no single pupil was kidnapped from the school. Other than the three teachers previously mentioned, no staff or pupil of the school is missing following the attack.” He added

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com, TNG had earlier reported on Monday morning that the gunmen stormed the school around 8:50am on Monday 15th March 2021 attempting to kidnap the students who scamper for safety.

    Security reports according to the commissioner have also revealed that the bandits rustled several cattle and went away with five motorcycles and other valuables.

  • BREAKING: Again, gunmen storm Kaduna primary school, abduct teachers, pupils

    BREAKING: Again, gunmen storm Kaduna primary school, abduct teachers, pupils

    Bandits have abducted students and teachers from UBE Primary School in Rama, a village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    According to a report coming in, members of the community said that the incident occurred while pupils where trooping into the school around 9am on Monday.

    A resident said the gunmen came on about 12 motorcycles.

    “I have been told that three teachers and some pupils have been abducted but we are trying to ascertain the true situation. Right now, our vigilante boys and other volunteers have gone after the bandits,” he said.

    “We are in the school right now, what we are trying to do is comb the bushes because some of the children ran into the bush. So, we don’t know how many were abducted at the moment.”

    Another resident, said: “There is a particular parent whose name is Halilu. He said he saw them carry his son on a motorcycle. Most of them decided to brave it by going after the bandits. We are in the school and we have sent for security agents but they have not arrived yet.”

    Mohammadu Birnin Gwari, a resident of Birnin Gwari, said two of his brothers were among the teachers abducted.

    He gave their names as Umar Hassan and Rabiu Salisu Takau.

    Details later…

  • Troops Repel Another Attack by Bandits in Kaduna Airport

    Troops Repel Another Attack by Bandits in Kaduna Airport

    Troops mostly made up of the officers and men of the Nigerian Airforce have foiled fresh attempts by armed bandits to kidnap another set of workers residing in the staff quarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Kaduna airport.

    It’s the second time in two weeks the Gunmen attacking the aviation workers.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports less than two weeks ago that 12 staff including a staff of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and his entire family and that of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) where Kidnapped when the bandits attacked previously.

    The recent foiled attempt which occurred Sunday morning attracted a gun battle between the bandits and the military who stormed the airport to rescue the victims

  • How troops foiled kidnapping of Kaduna students

    How troops foiled kidnapping of Kaduna students

    The Kaduna State Government says troops have foiled attempt to kidnap students of Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara Local Government Area of the state.

    The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this at a news conference in Kaduna on Sunday.

    Aruwan was at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to brief newsmen on recent events in respect to the security situation in the State.

    He said between the late hours of Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday, some suspected bandits stormed the Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, with intention to kidnap the students.

    “Fortunately, the students utilised the security warning system in place, and were thus able to alert security forces in the area.

    “The security forces, comprising the troops of the Nigerian Army, Police and some security volunteers, moved swiftly to the school and engaged the bandits, forcing them to flee.

    “The military and police are still on the trail of the armed bandits,” he said.

    The commissioner said following a headcount by the school management, the Kaduna State Government could confirm that all 307 students had been verified safe and present.

    He added that the attempted kidnap was foiled completely and no student was taken from the school.

    Aruwan also disclosed that around Ifira village in Igabi Local Government Area, bandits attempted to attack a senior staff quarters around the Kaduna airport general area.

    “This attempt was also foiled as troops of the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army engaged and repelled them, with several escaping with gunshot wounds.

    “The state government acknowledges the efforts of the security agencies in the recent rescue of 180 students in the vicinity of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka.

    “These efforts have being mentioned in interviews given by some of the rescued students.

    “By virtue of access to the facts of the event, the Kaduna State Government extends its unequivocal solidarity to the Military, Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies, whose swift intervention prevented the bandits from abducting more persons,” the commissioner stated.

    He said government would maintain a clear focus at this time to ensure the safe return of the missing students, and to consolidate on intelligence gathering and security vigilance towards forestalling possible attempt on other facilities or institutions.

    “As a government, our focus is on getting back our missing students and preventing further episodes of school abductions. We will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available” Aruwan said.

  • Insecurity: Explain how weapons for military, police end up with bandits, Reps query COAS, CBN Governor

    Insecurity: Explain how weapons for military, police end up with bandits, Reps query COAS, CBN Governor

    Members of the House of Representatives have asked the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, to explain how weapons purchased for the military and police end up in the hands of bandits and miscreants.

    The House ad-hoc committee on the need to review the purchase, use and control of arms, ammunition and related hardware by military, paramilitary and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria sat yesterday.

    Invited to face the committee on the issue were Attahiru and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

    Attahiru sent a representative, Major General C. Ofuche, but this was rejected by members of the committee led by Prince Olaide Akinremi from Oyo State.

    Members of the committee said the issue was a serious and sensitive one and needed the COAS to address them in person.

    Rep Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu from Sokoto State said Attahiru had to appear in person to explain how weapons bought for the military and police ended up in the hands of bandits.

    “You can bear witness to the fact that Nigeria is embroiled in serious security issues and year in year out appropriations were made and huge sums expended on procurement of arms and ammunition and yet in the whole of the whole of the arrests made you find these arms and ammunition with some of these bandits and miscreants.

    “Some of them can be traced back to the very military or police. It is a serious issue and the National Assembly is well positioned to dig deep into the root of this issue and find solutions.

    “As moved by my colleague there is need for a motion to allow the COAS come and make his submissions personally to this committee.

    “In line with the position of the previous speakers, I want to reiterate that this is a very serious and sensitive security matter.

    ‘At least let us see the man. Being that this is the first meeting with the Nigerian Army, the accounting officer of the Army should have appeared to give us his account, his position as far as the communications made to him.

    “For the chairman and secretariat there is no communication before that the COAS is having another schedule that may not allow him to be physically present here. That is a contravention to section 88, section 89 subsection 1, and of course section one of the Armed Forces Act 1994. So we are not witch-hunting but telling you what the law says,” he said.

    Other representatives, including Kabiru Idris (Kano), Bede Eke (Imo), and Ifeanyi Chudy Momah (Anambra), who spoke insisted that the COAS must appear before them physically.

    They noted that there was no official communication to the committee on why he could not make it.

    Major General Ofuche apologised on behalf of the COAS, saying: “He should have been here today and all indication to that was already in motion, but for several trips.

    “If you watched the TV yesterday, he was at Ibadan and Enugu all for the same security needs. The country is embroiled in a lot of crisis so they are moving around and he thought he could make it down here this morning for this meeting and so the notice was quite short for me to come and represent him because he would have loved to do it personally, and that is why there is no written note,” he said.

  • Bandits attack Zamfara communities again, kill scores of villagers

    Bandits attack Zamfara communities again, kill scores of villagers

    The attacks on six villages by bandits have left scores of villagers killed in Zamfara State, the government said on Friday.

    Mr Jamilu Magaji, who is the press secretary to the state governor, confirmed in a statement that the attacks were carried out in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    Villages, where scores of people were killed by the bandits, included Damaga, Jihiya, Shandame, Gidan Runji and Daki Hudu all in Maradun LGA, while the sixth village that came under attack was Kizara in Tsafe LGA.

    Magaji explained that the state governor, Bello Matawalle, had to cancel his official engagements in Sokoto State because of the attacks.

    According to him, the governor immediately returned to Zamfara to sympathise with the victims of the attacks in Maradun and Tsafe LGAs.

    “Governor Bello Matawalle who was in Sokoto for three official engagements which include the joint convocation ceremony of Sokoto State University alongside Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Grand Mauloud Ceremony of Prophet Muhammad SAW, and the Historic turbanning ceremony of Shettiman Sokoto by the Sultan of Sokoto which has been conferred on him, cancelled all the events and proceeded to Maradun town in order to sympathise and condole with the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the attacks,” the statement read.

    Condemning the attack, the governor directed security agencies in the state to evolve more ways as a further push to bring an end to the activities of bandits and bring lasting peace to the state.

    He also directed traditional rulers and local government chairmen to intensify efforts aimed at monitoring the influx of suspicious characters in their domains.

    Governor Matawalle also appealed to Islamic scholars in all parts of the state to intensify prayers for the return of peace and harmony in the state.

    He was hopeful that with fervent prayers, peace and tranquillity would reign in Zamfara so that residents can continue to sleep with their two eyes closed.

    The governor sent a high-powered state government delegation led by the deputy governor, Mahadi Gusau, to Tsafe to sympathise with the victims of the attack in Kizara village.

  • Bandits kill seven in fresh attacks on three Kaduna LGAs

    Bandits kill seven in fresh attacks on three Kaduna LGAs

    At least seven people have been killed and several others injured after bandits attacked Igabi, Giwa, and Chikun local government areas of Kaduna state.

    Security agencies also reported that properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed and cattle rustled in a series of separate attacks that occurred in the three local government areas.

    The latest incidents come barely 24 hours after the state government reported that 937 people were killed by bandits in 2020.

    According to the Kaduna State Commissioner for internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the armed bandits stormed Gangi village in Igabi local government, shooting sporadically in what seemed to be a cattle rustling operation, and in the process killed four residents.

    Two other persons also sustained gunshot injuries while three houses and a truck were razed by the bandits during the attack.

    In all, 20 cows belonging to two residents of the village were rustled and herded away by the bandits.

    In another incident, armed bandits attacked Marke village in Giwa local government area and killed one resident.

    Similarly, at Kuriga in Chikun local government area, the bandits killed two people and injured one person along the Buruku road linking with Birnin Gwari local government area.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed sadness over the incidents, and sent his condolences to the families of those killed while praying for the repose of their souls. He also wishes the injured citizens a quick recovery.