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Tag: bandits

  • Zamfara bandits I met not responsible for Jangebe school girls abduction – Gumi

    Zamfara bandits I met not responsible for Jangebe school girls abduction – Gumi

    Kaduna based Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reacted to the latest abduction in Zamfara State.

    The cleric said abductors of the Zamfara schoolgirls were not the bandits he recently engaged with in Zamfara forests.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the bandits stormed Government Secondary School Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area around 1 am Friday and abducted over 300 female students.

    Zamfara Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, confirmed the abduction to News Agency of Nigeria but could not confirm the number of the students abducted as at press time.

    However, Gumi, in a short telephone interview with The Nation, said the abduction was carried out by a splinter group of the Zamfara bandits.

    The Islamic scholar, who appeared to have reached out to the bandit leaders he recently met, stated categorically “They are not the ones that abducted the girls. It is a splinter group.”

    When asked whether he would be going to Zamfara to meet the bandits for talks and plea for release of the school girls, Sheikh Gumi simply said, “maybe”.

    Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the abduction. The command said that about three-hundred and seventeen (317) students were abducted from the Government Girls Science Secondary School Jangebe in Jangebe, Zamfara State.

    The Zamfara State Police Commissioner, CP Abutu Yaro said a joint search and rescue operation is already underway with a view to rescuing the 317 students kidnapped by the marauders.

  • BREAKING: Bandits kidnap 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara School

    BREAKING: Bandits kidnap 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara School

    Gunmen on Friday abducted yet to be ascertained number of schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara local government area of Zamfara state.

    However, in a developing story on BBC Hausa, about 300 felames students were said to have been abducted.

    This is coming less than 10 days after terrorists killed a student, abducted 27 students and three staff of Government Science college, Kagara, Niger state. 12 relatives of the staff and students were also kidnapped in the process

    A resident in Kawaye village, who identified himself as Sadi Kawaye said that his daughters, Mansura and Sakina were among those abducted.

    “I’m on my to Jangebe now to see the situation myself. I was told they invaded the school around 1:00am,” he said.

    The spokesman of the state police command command SP Muhammad Shehu didn’t deny the abduction but pleaded for time to ascertain the true situation

    “Give me some times, I can’t say anything now,” he said

  • Nigerians must stop calling bandits criminals – Sheikh Gumi

    Nigerians must stop calling bandits criminals – Sheikh Gumi

    Renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said Nigerians must stop labeling bandits as criminals.

    He said this must be done so that bandits can surrender their weapons and embrace peace.

    Speaking on Arise Television on Thursday monitored Gumi also berated the media, He accused journalists of fuelling the insecurity problem by describing the bandits as criminals.

    He said if the media wants them to surrender, they should not be castigated and referred to as criminals but nice words should be used to describe them.

    “You’re emphasising on criminality, even the press are criminals too because they are putting oil into fire.

    “These people are listening to you, you should not address them as criminals if you want them to succumb,” he said

    He added: “Youths are ready to put down their weapons, now you are calling them criminals. How do you want them to cooperate?

    “So you have to show them they are Nigerians, that they should not hurt children, be law-abiding. This is the language we want to hear, the press should assist us in getting the boys.

    “You see when we talk with them with nice words, they are ready to listen to us, put down their weapons but when the language is about criminality, killing them, then this is what we will keep having.”

    Citing the recent threat made by Niger-Delta militants, he said Nigeria is facing a nationwide problem and that the country should listen to their demands and strike out the word “criminality”.

    “Let me show you something, I don’t wish you harm but if you are stopped by armed robbers on the road, you will not use the word criminal on them.

    “Tell them good things so that you will save yourself. We are trying to save the nation from these youths that have a false sense of authority. The language we use is very important,” he said.

    “We have a problem now, proliferation of arms, and there are drugs and semi-illiterate population. How do you deal with it? By castigating them and abusing them in the media?

    “You’re talking to yourself, they don’t even listen to you so the best for us is the clergymen, the respected people, elderly try to reach them.

    “Put sense into them, when you go, they lower their heads, they will listen, they will start giving excuses, accept their excuse but show them the way out. We are trying to nurture them out of this criminality.

    “You have the power of media, you should use it to bring people together not try to spread things that divide people.”

  • Bandits attack three Kaduna LGs, kill 18

    Bandits attack three Kaduna LGs, kill 18

    Bandits have killed no fewer than 18 people in Giwa, Chikun and Igabi local government areas of Kaduna State.

    The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

    The three Local Government Areas have been under constant attacks by bandits in recent time.

    According to Aruwan, the bandits attacked Anaba village in Igabi local government area and killed seven people. He gave their names as Ali Musa, Isa Sharehu, Tijjani Isa, Auwalu Shehu, Hashim Abdullahi, Hassan Saidu and Umar Rilwanu.

    Many of the houses in the community were also burnt down by the bandits along with storehouses and barns, while they also rustled no fewer than 20 cows during the operation.

    Similarly, the bandits also attacked Barinje village in Chikun local government area killing eight persons, including Sunday Gwamna, Lawal Jizo, Salha Barau, Sabo Barau, Umaru Barau, Muhammadu Dan Azumi, Zailani Dogara and Jikan Gambo.

    Some residents of the village were also abducted, and cattle rustled during the attack, while an unspecified number of injured victims are receiving treatment in hospitals.

    In another operation, armed bandits attacked the loosely connected communities of Kwarten Rigasa, Kwarten Waziri and Kwarten Shaku in Igabi local government area.

    The bandits reportedly emerged from the Buruku area and raided the villages in a cattle rustling operation and in the process, killed one Danjuma Isa from neighboring Ungwan Kanti village as he made his way on foot to Kwarten Rigasa.

    Similarly, armed bandits invaded Sanhu Makera village in Birnin Yero of Igabi local government area and killed one Yakubu Abdullahi, a farmer in the village, while another person was killed by unknown assailants in unusual circumstances, at the Ministerial Pilot Housing Estate, Millennium City in Chikun local government area.

    According to Aruwan, the attacks on soft targets at Anaba and Barinje villages in Igabi and Chikun LGAs respectively followed the killing of several armed bandits through targeted air operations.

    He disclosed that air platforms had earlier conducted armed reconnaissance around Anaba village during which the crew observed houses on fire and locals migrating to nearby settlements.

    He further disclosed that many bandits on motorcycles were neutralised by troops at Kankomi village and neighbouring communities as well as
    Kuyanbana forest while many of them escaped with bullet wounds.

    The security agencies, however, appealed to the communities to report anyone found with suspicious bullet wounds to the Security Operations Room.

    Meanwhile, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed sadness over the unfortunate incidents and has sent his condolences to the families of all those killed in the attacks, while offering prayers for the repose of their souls. He also wishes the injured a quick recovery.

  • We need new strategies, dialogue with bandits not best option – Abdulsalami

    We need new strategies, dialogue with bandits not best option – Abdulsalami

    General Abdulasalmi Abubakar (Rtd) on Wednesday said negotiating with bandits is not the best option to banditry, while urging that new strategies be developed to combat the menace of banditry.

    Speaking when a delegation of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) visited him at his residence in Minna, Niger State, the former head of state said government might be forced to accept dialogue over the release of victims of Government Science College, Kagara.

    He appealed to the government to consider all possible options to secure the release of the victims.

    “Dialogue is not the best way but when you are the one wearing the shoe, what will you do? Our children have been abducted for over five days, even if you know where they are, it will be foolhardy to storm there and fight them because there may be casualties.

    “Sometimes there is a need to see the best way you can talk to these heartless people to see how you can get these people released. But dialogue is not the best way.

    “The law enforcement agencies need to work together to map new strategies on how to deal with the problem,” he said.

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who is Chairman of the forum, also led the delegation to the residence of former military President Ibrahim Babangida, who spoke on the plight of the kidnapped Kagara victims.

    “The safety of the children is of the utmost importance for now. We want them to come out safely without anyone being hurt. Any measure the government takes to secure their release will be okay,” he said.

    The victims have spent one week in captivity.

  • Negotiating with bandits not best way to tackle insecurity – General Abdusalami Abubakar

    Negotiating with bandits not best way to tackle insecurity – General Abdusalami Abubakar

    Former Head of State, Retired General Abdusalami Abubakar says negotiating with terrorists and bandits is not the best way to tackle the menace.

    Speaking on Tuesday after a meeting with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum in Minna, the former president stated that the best way to solve Nigeria’s banditry and kidnapping issues is to first make sure that the crimes are not committed.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Fayemi led Governors’ Forum said it is not ruling out dialogue with the bandits to secure the abducted victims’ release.

    While admitting that sometimes negotiations might be used to save the lives of kidnap victims, General Abdulsalami said the nation needs tight security that can checkmate the miscreants before they strike.

    Making a reference to the Kagara abduction, Abdulsalami noted that “even if anyone knows where the students are, it will be foolhardy to storm the place in a bid to fight and bring them back”, arguing that in the process some innocent lives will be lost.

    He, however, urged the authorities to ensure that security is beefed up to forestall further occurrences.

    According to him, the nation’s security architecture is overstretched and the Police Force is underpopulated, hence the need for support from the citizens and an increase in manpower.

    General Abdulsalami appealed that all hands must be on deck to ensure that insecurity in the country is tackled appropriately. He was of the opinion that the nation must go back to the time when brotherly love existed.

    “Let us go back to when we were our brothers’ keeper,” Abdulsalami pleaded.

    The elder statesman said it is sad that citizens are now being seen as strangers and are looked at with suspicion when they leave their states of origin and visit other parts of the country.

    In a similar vein, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida says the security threats faced by Nigeria at this time, can be dealt with.

    In an interview on Tuesday, General Babangida stated that the nation can overcome its security issues if those in the position of authority plan appropriately.

    He said quashing the threats posed by kidnappers, bandits, and the insurgents require a lot of planning, adding that it is not a short-term plan.

    General IBB said he has obtained information suggesting that security agencies are working together to map out new strategies on how to deal with the situation.

    The former president while stating that he is concerned about the situation in the country, urged the government and the citizenry to join forces to overcome the problem.

  • Insecurity: Governors have no choice but to dialogue with bandits – Fayemi

    Insecurity: Governors have no choice but to dialogue with bandits – Fayemi

    Governors will fight insecurity with every fibre of their being, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has said.

    The Chairman of the Forum and Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, spoke on Tuesday in Minna when he led a delegation to Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello over the kidnappings in the state.

    Fayemi said: “The agenda of these people is to destroy the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is their ultimate agenda. It is either we succumb to it or we fight it. And I can assure you that we will fight it with every fibre of our being. We will fight it to save our people.”

    He said as governors they owed the people the duty of securing their lives and properties.

    Fayemi added: “Our first responsibility as Governors is the security and welfare of our people. We do not want to lament because our people expect us to fix these problems. Our people want us to find a permanent solution to this cycle of violence, banditry, insurgency and criminality bedevilling our country.

    “All our people want is to be able to sleep in their houses with their eyes closed and that is the duty we owe them. What this means is that we need to come together as a country instead of engaging in blame games either as leaders or as citizens.

    “We need to explore every avenue to address this menace, we need to explore other avenues side by side with whatever the security institutions are doing. If that means engaging in dialogue, we may not have a choice but to engage in the dialogue. Anything that will help us deal with this crisis.”

    Fayemi continued: “Terrorism, be it kidnapping, banditry or whatever name you call it, these are the remnants of the actors of the north east that have found themselves in other parts of the country. It is the remnants of terrorism that we are still dealing with. That is why we must not treat the north east in isolation.”

    Sani-Bello appreciated the Forum for identifying with the people of Niger State at this trying period.

    According to him, the Federal Government should do more to find a final resolution to insecurity.

    “The time had come for us to come together and impose on the federal government to do the needful. There is a need for the federal government to proffer adequate intelligence and find a final resolution to this menace happening in our states.

    “Dialogue is great. We are working on securing the release of the students and staff of Kagara secondary school through dialogue. We will dialogue with the bandits because we have realised that they have different missions and reasons for doing what they are doing. We will dialogue to look at their causes in addressing them,” he said.

  • Negotiating with bandits not a sign of failure – Zamfara Governor

    Negotiating with bandits not a sign of failure – Zamfara Governor

    Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle on Monday said negotiating with bandits is not a sign of failure.

    He disclosed this at the Government House in Gusau while receiving some repentant bandits who surrendered their weapons and embraced his administration’s peace deal.

    Governor Matawalle believes the only way to put a stop to the current insecurity in the state is to dialogue with the bandits.

    He also described as unfortunate the thinking of some politicians who regarded the peace initiative as a failure, arguing that every war ends on the dialogue table.

    “It is not a failure or thing of failure for someone to initiate dialogue. Nowhere in the world is succeeding without coming to the table to sit down and negotiate.

    “Just for today, the weapons we have here show and indicate the successes we have recorded because leaving this kind of dangerous weapons in the bush can create a lot of havoc.

    “By bringing them to the security agencies, we have reduced their capacity and capability. Allowing these weapons to carry their weapons round to communities, cross-border to other states, that is what has made Nigeria be in the hot seat as of today,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, commended the state government for the peace initiative, noting that it is achieving the desired result.

    He however called on other bandits to make up their minds and surrender their weapons for peace to reign in the state.

    “This is an indication that the peace process is steadily moving and the message of peace is sinking into the population,” he said.

    “With this epoch-making event, we believe that citizens of Zamfara State and residents will have relief. The quantum of weapons taken today is sufficient leverage in our peace-making efforts.

    “I want to use this opportunity to call on all other weapons that are still undecided to a cue from the process today and submit their firearms,” he added.

    Earlier on February 8, eight repentant bandits embraced the amnesty deal and surrendered their weapons to the Zamfara State Government.

    The weapons including AK-47 rifles, General Multipurpose Machine Gun (GPMG), Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG), and several ammunitions were surrendered at the Government House in Gusau, the state capital.

  • Let’s dialogue with bandits, they’re peaceful people – Gumi

    Let’s dialogue with bandits, they’re peaceful people – Gumi

    Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has stressed that the only solution to banditry is for the government to dialogue with the perpetrators rather than engage use of military hardware.

    Gumi who made the remark during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday described bandits as peaceful people who were forced into criminality.

    The cleric has previously advocated for the bandits to be granted amnesty after meeting them in the bush.

    “When I listened to them, I found out that it is a simple case of criminality which turned into banditry, which turned into ethnic war, and some genocide too behind the scene; people don’t know,” he said.

    “There is no excuse for any crime; nothing can justify crime, and they are committing crime,” the bandits were forced into criminality.

    “I think it is a population that is pushed by circumstances into criminality.

    “And this is what we should look at, let’s remove the pressure, let’s remove the things that made them into criminals because we have lived thousands of years without any problems with the nomadic herdsmen. They are peaceful people. But something happened that led them to this.”

    According to Gumi, the herdsmen-bandits are engaged in an ethnic war against other peoples, including the sedentary Fulani. The solution, he added, was dialogue.

    “It is a complex issue that Nigerians need to understand,” Gumi said.

    “The solution is very simple, but it’s not military hardware. The solution is dialogue and teaching.

    “These people are acting with natural instincts, not special knowledge. And they don’t have any ambition or anything. They don’t have a vision of the future. They are talking about existence; their livelihood was destroyed because the cattle rustling that was going on for a long time, they are the first victims of it.

    “So, we need to investigate how cattle rustling became a big business in Nigeria and how it affected the socio-cultural behaviour of the nomadic Fulani. They were pushed into criminality.”

  • Bandits kill two, kidnap infants, burn church in Kaduna

    Bandits kill two, kidnap infants, burn church in Kaduna

    Bandits burnt the building of the Holy Family Catholic Church and two houses in Kikwari village, Kajuru local government area.

    Another gang of bandits also on Saturday night invaded Baka village in Igabi local government area and killed two persons.

    Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan confirmed the development in separate statements on Sunday.

    The Commissioner also confirmed some bandits also kidnapped nine persons in Sabon Birni area.

    According to him: “Security agencies have reported that armed bandits razed the building of the Holy Family Catholic Church, and two homes, in Kikwari village, Kajuru local government area.

    “According to the report received, the locals fled the area on receiving information that some bandits were sighted outside the village.

    “On getting to the location, the armed bandits set ablaze the place of worship and the two houses,” he said.

    On the Igabi killing, Arwuan said the bandits attacked the family residence of the late Dan’azumi Musa who was killed alongside his son, by bandits a week earlier.

    According to him: “In the latest attack, a brother to the deceased, one Sale Musa and his son Amiru Sale Musa, were shot dead. The bandits, operating in groups, also abducted a number of persons, mostly women and children.

    “Troops based in the Sabon Birni general area were mobilised to the location. They engaged the bandits and rescued some captives from one of the bandit groups, while another group had earlier escaped with another set of hostages.

    “The rescued are listed as: Aisha Isah, Halima Isah, Hannatu Umar, Hassana Umar, Hadiza Isah, Fadilah Bashir, Zaharau Isah, Maryam Bashir, Mikah Zakari, Yunusa Isah, Karima Umar, Kadija Umar, Rukaiyah Isah and Sumaiya Bashiru.

    “The following were kidnapped: Saudatu Garba, Laraba Idris, Auta Mansur, Ibrahim Danlami , Hauwa Sale , Fatima Idris, Safara Sale, Shafaatu Idris (infant) and Fiddausi Mansur (infant).

    “He conveyed his grief over the repeat attack and condoled the family of the slain father and son, while offering prayers for the repose of their souls.

    “The Governor also commended the troops for their quick response and thanked them for the safe rescue of 13 victims,” Aruwan stated.