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Tag: bandits

  • Bandits kill nine travellers on Kaduna highway, capture 11

    Bandits kill nine travellers on Kaduna highway, capture 11

    Some bandits killed no fewer than nine travellers, including infants, in Zankoro village along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway on Sunday.

    Also, a total of 11 people were abducted by the bandits on the same day at Dan Kungi village in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    This was contained in a statement by the chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Progressives Union, Mr Salisu Haruna, on Monday.

    The statement titled, ‘Alarming rise of banditry and killings in Birnin Gwari general area,’ added that more than 40 persons were abducted by the bandits between December 20, 2020 and January 4, 2021, adding that “some of them (abductees), have been reported terribly ill.”

    The statement read in part, “The New Year 2021 has begun in sorrow and tears for the people of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    “On Sunday, 3rd January, 2021, bandits laid siege on innocent travellers at Zankoro, along dreaded Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway, killing nine people (including three infants) that are on their way for a ceremony at Doka, Birnin-Gwari LGA.

    “Similarly, the bandits came out today, Monday, January 4, 2021 at the same Zankoro around 9am, shooting indiscriminately and abducting unspecified number of people and wounding six others that are now receiving treatment at Buruku.

    “In the last two weeks, bandits terrorising the people of Birnin Gwari, especially those travelling along Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highways have become forcefully aggressive as they continue to kill and abduct innocent citizens unabated.

    “There are more than 40 abductees currently at the mercy of the bandits who were kidnapped between December 20, 2020 and Monday January 4, 2021; some of them have been reported terribly ill.

    “A total of nine innocent travellers were killed at Zankoro along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway on Sunday, January 3, 2021. A total of 11 people were kidnapped at Dan Kungi village on Sunday January 3, 2021.

    “BEPU, therefore, calls on the government to deploy immediate response squad to mount offensive operations along Birnin Gwari, Kaduna and Birnin Gwari-Funtua highways.”

     

  • Bandits invade Niger community on New Year’s Eve, kill seven farmers

    Bandits invade Niger community on New Year’s Eve, kill seven farmers

    It was a bloody New Year’s Eve in Baban Rami, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State after bandits invaded the community and killed seven farmers.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane on Saturday confirmed the killings saying the incident occurred on New Year’s Eve.

    He said the bandits had laid ambush on the farmers who had gone to their farms to harvest their produce.

    According to him, the bandits had earlier demanded ransom from the farmers before they could harvest their produce.

    But the farmers refused to give in to their threats and decided to seek for the protection of some vigilante members.

    Matane explained that after the harvest, one of the drivers, however, decided to move ahead with some farmers, and in the process were attacked by the bandits who killed seven of them.

    Asked why the information was just coming to public domain, the Niger state SSG said government had wanted to be sure of the numbers before making any pronouncement.

    “We were not sure of the number of the persons killed. We wanted to be sure. So, we just got the accurate figure,” he said.

    It is the first time that bandits would launch attacks on Baban Rami.

    Matane said the state government would set up a coordinated operation in Mashegu to dislodge the bandits.

    He said the state government condemned the attack and other attacks recently carried out in the state.

    At least over fifty people have been killed by bandits in Niger State since renewed banditry attacks in January, 2020.

    The latest attack comes barely one week after the district head of Madaka in Rafi Local Government Area of the state, Ya’u Idris was killed by gunmen days after he was abducted from his home by the same people.

    At the moment, many farmers are not able to go to their farms to harvest their produce due to insecurity.

  • Insecurity: Not even a divine army would be able to defeat Boko Haram, bandits in Nigeria – Buhari’s aide

    Insecurity: Not even a divine army would be able to defeat Boko Haram, bandits in Nigeria – Buhari’s aide

    Mr Ajuri Ngelale, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Public Matters from the office of the Vice President has hypothetically stated that not even a divine army would be able to defeat Boko Haram and bandits in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Ngelale was trying to clarify if President Buhari meant he will fire service chiefs when in his New Year’s Day speech he talked about re-energizing and reorganizing the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police.

    While the Presidential aide did not confirm if Buhari will sack the service chiefs, the President did give a hint, saying that even if security forces had shown professionalism so far, there was a need to move to a more proactive and preemptive posture to ensure that the sorts of traumatic incidents happening in the country do not become a norm.

    “When we talk about security, the President has been very open about it. In fact, he stated just a few days ago that for us, when we look at public analysis in the country, there is a tendency to make very complex situations oversimplified. And I think one of the things we have seen is that there is this notion that has been floated out in public discourse that if we just sack security chiefs that will solve all of our problems.

    “What the President has said is that the issue of security, the issue of national defence is deeper than just a few individuals who have been task with overseeing critical our armed forces that it goes into issues of capacity building, it goes into issues of regional co-operation with our neighbours.

    “Even if we had [this is just a hypothetical statement] a divine army, that was perfectly run with everything perfect, and we did everything right in dealing with these terrorists, we have to understand that as long as these terrorists have a safe harbour, if they can go to Chad, if they can go to Cameroun, and they could go to Niger Republic, and re-gather themselves, recharge themselves, and train themselves, just to come and spring an attack and then run back, then, we are going to continue to have problems irrespective of how effective our armed forces have been. That is really important to understand,” Ngelale said when he appears on TVC News Nigeria This Morning TV show.

    Meanwhile, in his New Year’s Day speech, President Buhari highlighted some of the key priority areas for the year 2021 to include re-energizing and reorganizing the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police with a view to enhance their capacity to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities in some parts of the country.

    “In line with the current security challenges, we are facing as a nation, I would like to reiterate the promise I made recently when over 300 of our boys abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara were successfully rescued by our security operatives.

    “The professionalism shown by our Security Forces and the collaboration from all stakeholders across both State and Federal Governments that led to the successful rescue of the boys is proof that Nigeria has the internal capacity to decisively deal with terror attacks on our citizens.

    “However, we recognize that we rapidly have to move to a more proactive and preemptive posture to ensure that these sorts of traumatic incidents do not become a norm. Our administration is fully aware of the responsibility we have to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, and we will not relent in learning and adapting to changing threats to our national security and civic wellbeing,” the President said.

  • Troops kill 9 bandits in gun duel on Kaduna-Abuja highway

    Troops kill 9 bandits in gun duel on Kaduna-Abuja highway

    Nigerian soldiers securing the Kaduna-Abuja road have neutralised nine bandits in a firefight late on Monday night, up till the early hours of Tuesday.

    Mr Samuel Aruwan, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna.

    Aruwan said that according to the operational feedback, troops acted on intelligence that the bandits were attempting to cross over from the eastern part of the Kaduna-Abuja highway to the western part with a large herd of rustled cattle.

    “The herders, whose cattle had been rustled from the eastern part of the route, alerted the military for immediate action.

    “An ambush was successfully laid by the troops, as the bandits walked into the killing zone and were welcomed with a hail of bullets,” he said.

    According to him, after the firefight, a search of the area yielded the recovery of one empty magazine, one set of complete army camouflage and one set of desert boots.

    He said that other items recovered were seven blankets, two Tecno mobile phones, one caftan outfit and ropes for tying cattle.

    “At first light this morning, a further search revealed the corpse of one bandit, 16 dead cows and three wounded cows.

    “Seven more bandits died from ferocious gunshot wounds sustained in the ambush and their bodies were mutilated.

    “Troops, as of the time of this update, are still conducting vigorous search patrols in the general area,” he said.

    Aruwan said that a separate feedback, troops and police on Dec. 29, also foiled another attempt by bandits to cross the Kaduna-Abuja highway with rustled cattle around the Greenfield University.

    “The troops, guided by some local volunteers who pointed in the direction of the bandits’ movement, engaged the criminals in a firefight, sadly one of the local volunteers lost his life.

    “The report also said one bandit corpse was found along with several rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” Aruwan said.

    He said Gov. Nasir El-Rufai on receiving the feedback congratulated the security agencies on the successful operations and urged them to sustain the tempo in the ongoing offensives against bandits.

    According to him, El-Rufai also sent his condolences to the family of the volunteer who lost his life and prayed for the repose of his soul.

    “The governor also appealed to locals to always raise alarm in all cases and not only when they are directly affected, as banditry ultimately affects everyone.

    “Furthermore, locals in villages around Jakada-Darabi, Gwanto, Kasarami, Kankomi, Chikwari and neighbouring locations in Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas are enjoined to report any person found seeking medical attention for suspicious wounds,” said the commissioner.

  • Gunmen kill, bury Niger village head one week after abduction

    Gunmen kill, bury Niger village head one week after abduction

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed Mr Zakari Ya’u Idris, the Village Head of Madaka in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

    The Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Rafi LGA, Mohammed Mohammed, confirmed the murder of the village head to on Saturday.

    According to reports, Idris was killed a week after he was abducted by his captors who invaded Madaka community on Sunday last week, where they murdered three persons and abducted the village head for a second time.

    Mohammed revealed that the bandits had earlier contacted the family of the deceased to pay a ransom of N800,000.

    He noted that five persons that were released after they paid their ransom revealed that the Village Head of Madaka had been killed by the bandits.

    According to the LGA chairman’s aide, those who gained their freedom said Idris was killed after going through torture in the hands of the gunmen, as they were always beating him.

    They further disclosed that the remains of Zakari Idris were buried in the bush by the bandits.

    The village head was abducted after his release about a month ago during which he spent three months in the custody of his abductors.

    Those killed by the gunmen during the raid on Madaka included a leader of the vigilante group in the community, Isyaku Alhassan, his son Abdulhamid, and one other person.

    Scores of other persons were also said to have been injured during the attack while many houses were set ablaze.

    Similarly, the District Head of Gunna who was abducted in Yakila in the same local government has yet to regain freedom.

    The gunmen, according to Mohammed, have yet to get in touch with the family of the district head to demand any ransom.

    Gunmen kill PDP chieftain, Kidnap three daughters

    Meanwhile, the daredevil gunmen also extended their killing spree in the state to one Alhaji Ahmodu Mohammed, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kampala ward of Bosso Local Government Area of the state.

    According to reports, Ahmodu’s three daughters were also kidnapped by the bandits.

    According to eyewitness account, the murder of Alhaji Mohammed, a successful farmer, took place Thursday after the bandits had paid two previous visits to his community.

    The armed men were said to have previously attacked traders at the popular Beji market.

    Thursday’s raid by the bandits who numbered about 15 and carried dangerous weapons took place around 2.00 am, it was learnt.

    Confirming the development, a close family member said: “This is the third time that the bandits are attacking the man. They have been coming before but they couldn’t succeed because the man is very powerful”. “He was shot several times before he eventually died.”

    The Niger State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Tanko Beji confirmed the development. Beji said the remains of the slain Ward leader of the party had been interred according to Islamic injuction. He also confirmed the kidnap of three daughters of the deceased and described the incident “as unfortunate and pathetic”.

  • Angry mob lynches six bandits in Southern Kaduna

    Security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government the killing of six bandits by mobs in Sanga and Lere local government areas of Kaduna state.

    According to the operational feedback, on 24th December 2020 at Fadan Karshi in Sanga local government area, two bandits attacked a businessman and dispossessed him of money and other valuables.

    Samuel Aruwan , Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State,said on receiving the distress call, the military and police set out to the location.

    However, on getting to the scene, some angry locals had already lynched the bandits and burnt them to ashes.

    In the same local government, on Thursday night armed bandits opened fire on motorists plying the Aboro-Kafanchan Road. The bullets hit one Richard Sabo who in the course of driving knocked down one of the bandits to death.

    Sadly, Mr. Sabo who suffered bullet wounds was confirmed dead at Gwantu General Hospital. In Lere local government, security agencies reported that some bandits from a neighboring state who specialized in stealing livestock were also killed through mob action.

    According to the report, the bandits were chased and overpowered at Domawa village where three of them met their end in the hands of the mob. On a sad note, the government is in receipt of a report of the killing of a commercial motorcyclist, one Hudu Yahaya of Ungwan Nungu village of Sanga local government.

    He was beheaded by bandits who escaped with his motorcycle. Governor Nasir El-Rufai has sent condolences to the families of Richard Sabo and Hudu Yahaya and prayed for the repose of their souls.

    The Governor has also made a strong appeal to citizens to continue to have recourse to the law and not resort to jungle justice.

  • Bandits invade Kaduna market; kill seven, destroy properties

    Bandits invade Kaduna market; kill seven, destroy properties

    Armed bandits sneaked into the Galadimawa Market, in Giwa local government area of Kaduna State, and killed two vigilantes, five others.

    330 bags of maize were also burnt by the bandits.

    According to Samuel Aruwan, the state’s Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the tragic incident happened at about 4 pm on Wednesday evening.

    A statement released by Aruwan on Thursday identified the two vigilantes killed as Yusuf Magaji Iyatawa
    and Dabo Bafillace.

    While running for safety, the five citizens killed include:
    1. Danjuma Haladu
    2. Shuaibu Isyaku
    3. Isyaku Adamu
    4. Shehu Dalhatu
    5. Musa Haruna Kerawa

    A commercial trailer driver, one Alhaji Yusuf Tumburku who had just loaded 330 bags of maize belonging to a trader, Alhaji Hamza Ungwan Lalle Giwa, also had his vehicle and the grains burnt to ashes.

    The car set ablaze by bandits

    One other car was also burnt by the armed bandits.

    However, Aruwan noted that security agencies comprising the police and troops gave the armed bandits a hot pursuit while they escaped out of the general area.

    He added that the ground troops are still carrying out clearance operations in the Galadimawa and Kidandan general areas.

    Meanwhile, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sent condolences to the families that lost their loved ones and commended the military and police for neutralizing some of the armed bandits.

    The Governor charged locals in the Galadimawa and Kidandan general areas of Giwa local government to continue to volunteer useful information to the government and security agencies.

  • Bandits Kill Seven, Kidnap Three In Kaduna Village

    Bandits Kill Seven, Kidnap Three In Kaduna Village

    Seven people have been killed by bandits during an attack in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The attack, according to the residents, happened at the Katarma general area of Chikun local government near a location called Gbaja.

    The residents also disclosed that the four people sustained injuries of various degrees.

    In a similar development, the bandits attacked Unguwar Tagwaye Doka in Kuriga Ward, also of Chikun local government where they kidnapped three people.

    Confirming the incident in a statement, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said security agencies are conducting investigations at the affected locations.

    The commissioner explained that the state government awaits official reports and other details on the incidents.

    Kaduna has been experiencing a series of security challenges recently.

    Just two days ago, four people were killed in another reprisal attack in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of the north-western state.

    This is coming barely 24 hours after seven people were murdered in what security agencies describe as reprisal killing in Kauru and Lere Local Government Areas of the state.

    Aruwan, who confirmed the unfortunate incident to Channels Television on December 20, said military and police authorities disclosed that the four persons were murdered.

    Troops under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) had reported on Thursday and Saturday the killing of seven persons at Gora Gan in Zangon Kataf local government and the counter-killing of seven herders at Ungwan Idi and Kasheku of Kauru local government.

    In the meantime, troops of Operation Safe Haven and Special Forces are still carrying out operations in Kauru and Zangon Kataf local government areas.

  • How we trekked eight hours in the forest, promised bandits we won’t return to school – Kankara boys

    How we trekked eight hours in the forest, promised bandits we won’t return to school – Kankara boys

    Some of the rescued 334 Kankara schoolboys abducted last weekend have shared the agonising moments they went through in the hands of their abductors.

    According to them, they trekked all the way in the forest, hiding with the bandits as there was no vehicle to convey them.

    Aliyu Husseni, a 19-year old SS2 student in the school, said he could not estimate the distance they trekked, saying that he was with his brother, Jani Husseni, who was kidnapped with him.

     

    Aliyu said: “We trekked for eight hours non-stop. Only the younger ones among us did cry, and the bandits, in response, would raise their guns up and shoot in the air, saying they are Boko Haram and they acknowledged only Islamic knowledge.

    ”They took us to one big rock where we slept for just one hour before we continued to a big mountain where each time they saw a plane (aircraft) they would ask us to lie down.

    “We fed on dates from that Friday that we were kidnapped. We were also eating an animal food from a tree commonly called ‘Kalgo’ in Hausa language. We ate that until Sunday evening when we were given potatoes and kulikuli (groundnut cake) before the journey continued.

    “We were crying because we were tired and hungry, but they would not listen to us.

    ”We later reached a place where we rested and were given the usual food. Once you collect your ration, they would beat you as you were going.

    “Whenever we wanted to drink water, we did so like animals, putting our mouths to the ground.”

    Asked whether ransom was paid for their release, he said: “I don’t know. But some are saying they collected while some are of the view that they did not.

    ”But they were talking on the phone until they finally took us on motorcycles to a safe ground and released us.

    ‘’Although we promised them that we would not return to school, we know that we are only loyal to the decisions of our parents. Whatever they say is what we will do.”

  • Kankara Abduction: APC in same league with bandits, terrorists – PDP

    Kankara Abduction: APC in same league with bandits, terrorists – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being a party in league with bandits and terrorists ravaging the country.

    PDP in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that the ruling party has been acting as the mouthpiece of bandits, rationalizing killings and kidnapping, showing express sympathy to terrorists.

    According to Ologbondiyan, the APC has refused to condemn acts of terrorism but attacks any person or groups that dare to criticize the activities of these bandits or demand the unconditional release of abductees.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the revelations trailing the abduction and release of 600 students by bandits have further exposed the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party in league with bandits, insurgents and terrorists ravaging our nation,” the statement partly read.

    “The PDP says such revelations further explain why the APC has been acting as the mouthpiece of bandits, rationalizing killings and kidnapping, showing express sympathy to terrorists, refusing to condemn acts of terrorism but attacking any person or groups that dare to criticize the activities of these bandits or demand the unconditional release of abductees.”

    SEE FULL STATEMENT HERE:

    Press Statement

    Insecurity: Kankara Students’ Abduction Still the Shame of APC, Buhari Presidency-PDP

    …Says APC In ‘Blood Business’ With Bandits, Insurgents

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the revelations trailing the abduction and release of 600 students by bandits have further exposed the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party in league with bandits, insurgents and terrorists ravaging our nation.

    The PDP says such revelations further explain why the APC has been acting as the mouthpiece of bandits, rationalizing killings and kidnapping, showing express sympathy to terrorists, refusing to condemn acts of terrorism but attacking any person or groups that dare to criticize the activities of these bandits or demand the unconditional release of abductees.

    Indeed, the Thursday’s statement by the Governor Mai Buni-led leadership of the APC, in which it showed support to bandits by condemning genuine protest by Nigerian women and youth in Abuja, has further betrayed the APC as a party that has vested interest in the proceeds of these reprehensible enterprises.

    Moreover, the statement credited to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, wherein he attempted to rationalize the abduction of the 600 students as a normal occurrence in other parts of the world, validates apprehensions of high-level conspiracy against helpless Nigerians.

    The outburst by the Buhari Presidency, blaming the killed 43 farmers in Borno state instead of taking steps to apprehend their assailants also readily comes to mind.

    The posers are; why is the APC always showing sympathy for and canvassing understanding for bandits, insurgents and terrorists?

    Why is the APC not always forthcoming in condemning acts of terrorism and banditry but only issuing lame and patronizing press statements after being prodded and called-out by well-meaning Nigerians including the PDP?

    Furthermore, why is the APC and its administration always attacking any person or groups who condemns acts of terrorism or make suggestions on how to vanquish the terrorists?

    What is APC and its leaders gaining from the activities of bandits, terrorists, vandals and kidnappers, that they now act as if they are sureties for these assailants?

    Why has APC refused to account for the political mercenaries it imported from Niger Republic and Chad to unleash violence during the 2019 elections as well as come clean on allegations that they are these crops of people are unleashing their anger on the nation following the failure of the APC to settle them?

    This is particularly against the backdrop of reported declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that the abductors and tormentors of our 600 traumatized and brutalized students were rather “settled”; a statement that does not only confirm that the Buhari Presidency cannot combat terrorists but also explains why banditry, kidnapping and acts of terrorism have become a thriving bloody business under the APC.

    It is imperative to state that the APC’s sympathy for acts of terrorism had led to escalated attacks on our compatriots in the last five years.

    It is also very worrisome that our government under the APC can no longer battle bandits and insurgent and now has to rely on nascent groups coordinated by APC leaders to negotiate and pay ransom to assailants.

    Such devious designs have elevated acts of terrorism to a per-second affair in our nation under the encouragement of the APC.

    The reported attack on the traditional ruler of Kaura Namoda in Zamfara state as well as the abduction of the traditional ruler of Ankpa in Kogi state, just after the settlement of the Katsina bandits, shows a disturbing trend.

    The PDP calls on Nigerians to hold the APC responsible for the escalated act of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism ravaging our nation.

    Perhaps, the time has come for Nigerians, whose loved ones have been kidnapped or killed by kidnappers or bandits, to approach the APC for redress.

    Signed:

    Kola Ologbondiyan

    National Publicity Secretary