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Tag: bandits

  • Flogging of suspected bandits unacceptable – NAF

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has condemned the reported flogging and physical assault of suspected bandits by some military personnel in Zamfara, as totally unacceptable.

    NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, condemned the action in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    ” The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a video and some pictures circulating on some social media and online platforms showing some military personnel flogging suspected armed bandits at Shinkafi Local Government Area (LGA) in Zamfara State.

    ” The NAF has discovered that some of its personnel were part of the joint team stationed at the Galadi Sub-Sector at the time.

    ” The NAF wishes to state unequivocally that the troops’ actions of flogging and physically assaulting the disarmed suspects were totally unacceptable and not in consonance with the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) guiding the conduct of the operation.

    ” Our personnel have always been directed to respect the rights of innocent civilians as well as captured combatants, no matter the provocation.

    ” The joint team had, sequel to intelligence reports, intercepted a group of suspected armed bandits, including some fighters from across the border, at their Sububu Forest hideout whilst they were on the verge of executing an attack against innocent civilians in Shinkafi.

    ” In the process, the team recovered one AK-47 rifle along with 3 loaded magazines and 3 dane guns from the bandits.

    ” In an effort to obtain further information on the criminals’ plans and the location of their armoury, the troops employed unauthorized, crude corporal methods.

    ” The public is to please note that the NAF has zero tolerance for such human rights violations and has since initiated appropriate action to address the anomaly.

    ” In this regard, a Board of Inquiry (BOI) has been set up by the Headquarters Special Operations Command (HQ SOC) to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident with a view to ensuring that appropriate disciplinary action is taken against all NAF personnel found culpable.”

    The spokesman said the public would be kept informed on the outcome of the investigations.

    He said the NAF, as an organisation, remained a professional fighting force that would continue to operate within the ambits of all relevant laws and procedures.

    Daramola said the NAF would also continue to operate in line with international best practices, while remaining fully accountable to the Nigerian people.

  • Killings: Bandits in Zamfara have access to more arms than security agencies, Yari raises alarm

    Killings: Bandits in Zamfara have access to more arms than security agencies, Yari raises alarm

    Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State on Tuesday in Abuja raised alarm over stock piling of arms by bandits operating in the state.

    Yari made this known while speaking with State House correspondents after he had updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the socio-political and security developments in the state.

    The governor, who ruled out dialogue with bandits, said: “I have told my people that dialogue will no longer take place during my time because I have done that three times, but it did not work.

    “This is in the sense that we know their capacity.

    “For instance, during the first dialogue, they invited some of our team, army, DSS, police, and my chief security officer as well as some representatives of traditional rulers and we have seen what they have.

    “They are in control of the kind of weapons that the security command in Zamfara does not have.

    “In one armoury alone, they have more than 500 AK 47 rifles; we saw it.

    “Our people were even given the chance to take pictures.

    “But when we said we will dialogue and offer them amnesty if they surrendered their arms, they refused.

    “I can tell you that till date we have not received up to 90 AK 47 rifles.

    “So it is deceit. That is why I said no more dialogue during my tenure.

    “During dry season they try to get us to dialogue because they know the security forces can get to them anywhere in the forest and they would not have a place to hide.

    “But when the rainy season comes and the forest becomes thicker they return to their normal practice.

    “That is why I said there has to be a show of force before anything else.

    “I know that in any war, eventually you have to come to the table and dialogue, but at this point and given the situation we are in right now, dialogue is not needed.’’

    The governor expressed the hope that the federal government would soon address the security challenges facing the state as it would soon take delivery of military hardware and modern weapons to check the activities of the bandits in the area and beyond.

    “The federal government has already given procurement contracts, inter-government transactions to the United States, China, and other European countries.

    In 2018, the Nigeria Governors Forum, approved one billion dollars to help the federal government equip the security agencies.

    “We believe the equipment will soon come into the country and it is our hope that the equipment will be used so that this worrying situation that we are in will become history,’’ he added.

  • Bandits abduct popular Islamic cleric, five others in Katsina — Police

    Popular Kano-based Quranic reciter, Sheikh Ahmad Sulaiman and five other persons have been kidnapped in Katsina State.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isa, told reporters yesterday in Katsina that the police were already on the trail of the kidnappers with a view to rescuing the victims.

    Isa urged the general public to continue to provide police with information on criminals and their activities with a view to safeguard peoples’ lives and property.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the victims were kidnapped on Thursday night on Sheme-Kankara road on their way back to Kano State after attending an Islamic event in Kebbi State.

    The State police command also confirmed yesterday, the the release of the mother-in-law to Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, Hajiya Hauwa Yusuf by kidnappers.

    Hajiya Hauwa, the mother to one of the governor’s wives, Hajiya Binta, was abducted a week ago at her residence in Katsina metropolis.

    Gambo, in confirming the release said: “I am very happy to inform you that the old woman has been released by her abductors in the early hours of the day (Friday).

    ‘’She is hale and hearty, and has already been reunited with her family after necessary medical checkup.’’

    Meanwhile, the police have arrested an alleged notorious member of a kidnap syndicate in Batsari Local Government Area of the state.

    Isa said that the suspect attacked the house of one Mustapha Sani and attempted to kidnap his two wives.

    According to him, the combined team of police and vigilance group members promptly pursued the suspect and succeeded in rescuing the two women.

    ‘’The command will continue to solicit for the cooperation and support of the public in the fight against kidnappers and banditry,’’ he said.

  • Troops kill 55 bandits, rescue 760 abductees in Zamfara

    Troops of Operation Sharan Daji have killed 55 bandits and rescued 760 persons abducted from villages in Zamfara state.

    Acting Force Information Officer, Maj. Clement Abiade, in a statement in Gusau yesterday, said the troops also recovered weapons, ammunition and rustled cows as they blocked all entry points to the bushes to deny the bandits free movement while building confidence of the locals.

    He said: “A total of 24 suspected bandits informants, rustlers, kidnappers and logistics suppliers were arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation.

    “The Air Component of the operation carried out several air strikes around Kagara, Gando, Fankama, Fete and Dumburum forest during which successes were recorded.

    “Items recovered include four AK 47 rifles, one Rocket Propelled Gun Tube, 12 Dane guns, 27 AK 47 Magazines, 168 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one Pump Action Gun, 47 Motorcycles, a Golf wagon car and 61 rustled cattle.

    “The troops’ sustained operation led to the return of over 1000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs from Maru to Bini village on Feb.17.

    “Unfortunately, this feat was not achieved without supreme sacrifice being paid by one officer, two soldiers and a vigilante who paid the supreme prize during the encounter with bandits in Kagara forest.”

  • Armed bandits invade Niger villages, kidnap 15, kill nine

    Armed bandits invade Niger villages, kidnap 15, kill nine

    Armed bandits have killed nine people and kidnapped 15 others in a recent attack in Banda, Malfa and Tunga villages in Kurebe and kwaki wards of Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

    It was learnt that 11 women and girls were raped and injured and are currently hospitalized in critical condition after the attack which occurred over the weekend.

    In a press statement by the Senator representing North East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru, he revealed that last week, several attacks were carried out in some villages across the district.

    According to him, a woman, her daughter and a Royal Prince were abducted at Kwararamai, three persons were killed whilst three others were abducted in Malfa adding that villages like Kwararamai, Jankuta and Marraraban Bataro were also attacked as 17 persons were abducted in one night.

    “It is with a heavy heart and a very sad mood that I issue this statement today on a most callous and brutal armed attack on my good people of Badna, Malfa, Tunga villages and surrounding communities in Kurebe and Kwaki wards of shiroro area within Niger East Senatorial District.

    “I am particularly saddened and shocked at the cruel massacre of nine people of my constituents, the kidnap of 15 innocent people mostly women and girls in an attack in which several others were raped, injured and hospitalized with 11 in critical condition.

    “It is painful to note that this incident which occurred not more than 36 hours ago is just one amongst several other brazen attacks that have been carried out in the area in recent times.”

    The Senator who called for urgent security intervention and sufficient security personnel to be drafted to these villages stated that the areas are no longer safe for the people to live in.

    “These incidents which are still very fresh our memories are quick reminders of the present reality in this area that lives and properties of the inhabitants of these communities are no longer safe. There is, therefore, the need for urgent intervention by security agencies.

    He called on security agencies to give priority again to securing lives and properties of the villagers in order to build on the peace that have prevailed in the area before the gangsters resurfaced recently, “All the Security and relevant Government agencies should focus attention on the worst affected areas in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi Local Government areas.

    “I therefore humbly call on the Niger state Commissioner of Police and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Div. Kaduna to deploy sufficient personnel to the hot spots particularly in surrounding villages in kurebe/Kushaka, and kwaki/chukuba, wards of shiroro local government area of Niger state. Attention should, nonetheless, also be given to areas under serious threats in Munya and Rafi LGAs.”

  • Bandits invade Zamfara community, kill serving senator’s sister, kidnap in-law

    Bandits invade Zamfara community, kill serving senator’s sister, kidnap in-law

    Suspected bandits have killed Ade Marafa, a sister of the senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa, and abducted her husband in Zamfara State.

    The senator confirmed the incident to Tuesday afternoon.

    He said the assailants killed her sister “around 3 a.m” on Monday in Ruwan Bore. He said several other villages in the Gusau Local Government of Zamfara State also came under attack.

    The police could not be immediately reached for comment.

    Zamfara State has in recent years faced relentless attacks by bandits believed to be having a free reign of terror. The authorities are not doing enough to secure the people.

    An online newspaper, The Cable, quoting an aide to Mr Marafa, reported that, at least, half of the Ruwan Bore village was razed.

    However, Marafa said only “our own house” was attacked in the village, while several others in the area were burnt down by the attackers.

    The attack was said to have lasted for about three days until Monday morning.

    The violence in Zamfara, like the escalating herders-farmers crisis in the Middle Belt and the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east, has worsened Nigeria’s insecurity woes.

  • Bandits invade Zamfara communities, kill farmers harvesting potatoes

    Bandits invade Zamfara communities, kill farmers harvesting potatoes

    Suspected armed bandits on Wednesday stormed three communities in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing many residents.

    According to sources in the neighbourhood, some of those killed were working on their farms when they were attacked.

    Sources said the armed bandits came heavily armed and opened fire on the farmers who were harvesting sweet potatoes at Garin Haladu community.

    “The armed bandits came around 1 o’clock noon and opened fire on some youth harvesting sweet potatoes at Garin Haladu community and killed ten people,” a resident said.

    He added that “they came back in the evening and ransacked some villages around.”

    The source said in Wednesday’s attack, 12 people were killed at Garin Haladu community. At Nasarawa Godal community, four persons were killed, while at Garin Kaka community, nine people were killed, he said. The three communities are in the same local government.

    “Many youth from Nasarawa Godal community ran to Garin Haladu to help the neighbouring community fight the attackers. Among them, four persons were killed by the armed bandits and their corpses were discovered today (Thursday),” the source said.

    The source, who asked not to be named for security reasons, named those killed from Nasarawa Godal community as Kurma Garba, Sunusi Mairoba, Ibrahim Yahuza and Haruna Dangodal.

    Those four have been buried.

    Many were injured and are receiving medical treatment at Nasarawa Godal hospital, he said.

    Some, whose situations worsened, were referred to Kaura Namoda hospital in the state.

    The affected local government, Birnin Magaji, is the hometown of Nigeria’s defence minister, Mansur Dan Ali.

    According to a report by Premium Times, most of the villages surrounding Birnin Magaji Local Government Area such as Ballaka, Tsalle, Gidan Kare, Katsinawa, Garin Boka and Garin kaka are deserted due to repeated attacks by the bandits. Residents of such villages are taking refuge at the council headquarters and some other places in the state.

    The source stated that residents are now searching for corpses in the bush and there is the fear that the death toll will rise.

    Soldiers reportedly came in three vehicles to the area, hours after the armed bandits had finished their operation.

     

  • Police recover bodies of 16 cops killed by Zamfara bandits

    Police recover bodies of 16 cops killed by Zamfara bandits

    The police have recovered the bodies of 16 personnel who died during the exchange of fire with bandits in Zamfara State last week Thursday.

    Twenty cops who were missing during the operation was said to have been rescued by the Police Joint Intervention Force.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, had earlier claimed only one policeman was killed, but a statement on Wednesday by Zamfara Police spokesman, SP Mohammed Shehu, put the casualty figure at 16.

    “The search and rescue operations embarked on by the Police Joint Intervention Force to rescue the missing police personnel after the November 29, 2018, onslaught on the armed bandits resulted in the successful rescue of 20 Policemen alive, while 16 personnel were found dead,” it explained.

    The statement expressed the IG’s condolences to the families of the deceased Policemen, noting that he had ordered befitting burials for the gallant officers and the prompt processing and payments of their life assurance benefits and other entitlements.

    Following the bloody encounter with the bandits and the high casualties, the force leadership had deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Operations, Habila Joshiak, to take over the command of the operation.

    The police had said the PJIT operatives killed 104 hoodlums and destroyed 50 criminal hideouts in Zurmi Local Government Area while they recovered 500 cattle and 79 sheep during the operation.

  • Be ruthless in fighting bandits, Buhari tells Military

    President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged military personnel deployed to Katsina State, saddled with the task of fighting bandits in Zamfara, to be “as ruthless as humanly possible” in carrying out their assignment.

    The president gave the challenge when he addressed the 1000-strong military force assembled to check the menace of the bandits and other criminal elements at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport Katsina, on Saturday.

    The Federal Government had, on July 29, assembled military personnel, comprising the army, air force, police and the civil defence to help in tackling the activities of the bandits.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Air Force has deployed fighter aircraft to Katsina, the airport with the closest proximity to Zamfara, to allow for immediate and effective response to the menace of the bandits.

    The president had also authorised the engagement by NAF, of advanced satellite surveillance technology to help in accurate detection of movement and locations of the bandits.

    The bandits had been terrorising innocent rural dwellers, razing down several villages and towns across the local government areas of Zamfara, and also kidnapping for ransom.

    President Buhari, who expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the soldiers were carrying out their assignment, said that Nigerians deserved some peace.

    ‘‘Nigerians are looking up to you and us to secure the country. What is happening in the areas of operations is disgraceful.

    “I’m very pleased with the way officers and men are firmly putting it down and I want you to be as ruthless as humanly possible. Nigerians deserve some peace.

    “When we came into government, what we promised was security.The country has to be secured to be managed.

    “Secondly, on economy, more than 60 per cent of the population of Nigeria is under 30 years.

    ‘‘A lot of them did not have the opportunity to be educated to secure respective jobs; their expectations are very high.

    “The second undertaken we made is to improve the economy and the third is to fight corruption.

    ‘‘We have been doing our best and we depend a lot on you to do what is needed in the field.

    “I do not want you to spare any cattle rustler, armed robber or any stupid person who thinks he is above the law.

    ‘‘I commend you for the job you have been doing so far and I assure you that I will continue to be a worthy Commander-in-Chief,’’ he said.

    The president, who donated five bulls to the military personnel, departed for Abuja after the Sallah break in his country home, Daura.

    Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State and other government dignitaries were at the airport to wish the president safe trip back to Abuja.

    While in Daura, the president had received seven All Progressives Congress governors, many members of the National Assembly including Sen. Shehu Sani as well as cabinet ministers, who paid him Sallah homage.

    President Buhari also used the opportunity to hold various family meetings with relatives.

    (NAN)

  • Troops kill 20 bandits, set captives free in Zamfara

    The Nigerian military conducting Operation Sharan Daji to flush out bandits in Zamfara, on Saturday said it had neutralised 20 bandits and freed their captives in Zamfara.

    The Force Information Officer of the operation, Col. Muhammad Dole, disclosed this in a statement in Kaduna.

    “In continuation of the ongoing Operation SHARAN DAJI, the troops conducted several raids and ambush operations in major identified camps and routes in Maradun, Tsafe and Zurmi Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.”

    He said during the encounter at DABAN- DOKA village near Dansadau, troops laid an ambush for bandits’ identified routes where 20 bandits were neutralised.

    “Some bandits escaped with gunshot wounds and several motorcycles were burnt.

    “In one of the troops encounter with the bandits, two notorious bandits, Bello Danboko and Sani Maza, were eliminated in Yanwari ward near Yankuzo and Mai Tukunya villages near Dansadau all in Zamfara.”

    According to him, during recent clearance operation along Mashema, Kwadi, kalage, Gambiru and Kagara axis, heavy fight ensued between troops and bandits.

    However, due to the overwhelming military firepower, a reasonable number of the bandits were neutralised and their camps were set ablaze.

    This successful feat has created relative peace and spurred massive returns of Internally Displaced Persons to their villages in Zurmi Local Govt Area.