Large number of children have reportedly taken to the street in protest against the killing of their parents by bandits for three consecutive days in Katsina state.
It was reported that bandits launched attacks on different villages in Katsina state. The attack on Wurma community was reported to have lasted for three days with no security intervention to arrest ths situation.
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The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the killing of six people by bandits in an attack on Faskari Local Government Area of the State.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO,ASP Abubakar Aliyu , confirmed the killing in a statement on Tuesday .
He said that 10 people were also injured in the attack, which occurred in Nasarawa Village on Sunday.
“On Feb.19, at about 11:30 p.m., some suspected armed bandits in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, attacked Nasarawa village, Faskari Local Government Area.
“They shot and killed six persons, injured 10, and set ablaze three houses and about 10 vehicles, “.he said.
Abubakar added that the Commissioner of Police in the state ,CP Aliyu Musa, had since deployed the command’s tactical, operational and intelligence operatives to the scene.
He said the operatives were combing the surrounding bushes for possible arrest of the perpetrators.
Troops of 114 Battalion (Rear) of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security forces, on Saturday destroyed multiple bandits’ hideouts and rescued 4 kidnap victims in Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba.
This is contained in a statement signed by Lt Olabodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, and made available to newsmen in Jalingo on Sunday.
It stated that the swift and decisive operation to flush out bandits and kidnappers disturbing the peace in Yorro and its environs commenced on Feb. 2
It said that troops came in contact with bandits at Gampu hills and Ban Yorro area and exerted superior fire power which made the bandits to flee the location, leaving behind their four abducted victims.
“The operation is still ongoing to ensure that other kidnapped victims who fled the area during the exchange of fire are found and reunited with their loved ones.
“The rescued victims are Genesis Samuel, 24, from Ganku village; Benard Denis, 28, from Fulfualgon village; Esther Titus, 35, from Kosanai village and the Emir of Pupulle’s son, Isma’il Umar, 25, who was abducted at his residence on Jan. 18.
“The Brigade is committed to ensuring the safety of citizens and dismantling all criminal infrastructure in the state.
“Members of the public are urged to continue to support the military by giving credible and timely information on suspicious movements, to aid in improving security within the state.
Taraba State Police Command has said over N8m cash ransom was rejected as a bribe from bandits.
The police arrested thirteen suspected bandits and kidnappers on their watchlist for terrorizing residents of Jalingo, Yorro, Lau, and Zing local government areas of the state.
This was disclosed by the state commissioner of Police Joseph Eribo while parading the suspects and their exhibits at the police headquarters in Jalingo, the state capital on Wednesday.
According to the police, the bandits use the adjoining mountains as a shield and any attempt to rescue victims or attack the bandits leads to collateral damage, hence its decision to deploy all its operational assets to deal with the emerging trend.
After a collaboration by the police and other sister security agencies, vigilante officers, and professional hunters, thirteen of the bandits were arrested in different parts of the state. Over N8m cash ransom was rejected as a bribe, and five AK-47 rifles and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered with five kidnap victims rescued.
Three electricity vandals were also arrested for penetrating and vandalizing the electricity transformer of the police headquarters as well as vandalizing that of Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) in the Lau Local Government Area of the state.
The bandits and kidnappers in the course of interrogation say they usually collaborate with the electricity vandals to vandalize electricity transformers which gives them easy access to kidnap or kill in communities experiencing power outages, especially at night.
Some of the bandits who allegedly masterminded the kidnap of a traditional ruler, a pastor, and an imam as well as a kidnapper who collected over N8m ransom among others confessed to having committed the crime.
The police said all the suspects will be charged to court in line with the state’s anti-kidnapping law and will ensure that justice is served.
BANDITS Thursday night attacked Gangara, in Jibia Local Government of Katsina State. They killed five, abducted 24, burnt down the market and a number of houses. The attack was one of a number, carried out in the last two weeks in the area. Previous targets had included a military camp and a police checkpoint with several killed.
Meanwhile, there has been no respite even after the December 23-25, 2023 massacres in Plateau State in which over 200 were killed, at least 500 injured and 10,000 rendered homeless. Last Tuesday, despite a 24-hour curfew, over 30 were killed in Mangu. The Boko Haram terrorists continue their attacks in the North-East while bandits reign in the North-West, especially Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina states.
Given the state of virtual anarchy, especially in the North, I would have expected the issue of insecurity to be the preoccupation of the Northern Senators Forum, NSF. But when it addressed the nation last week, insecurity was not its concern.
There is the serious issue of 20 million out-of-school-children most of them in the North. But this does not appear to be a main headache of the NSF.
Nigeria is a poverty capital of the world with an estimated 82.9 million Nigerians under the poverty line. Most of these victims of poverty are in the North. But this does not appear to be an issue worth tackling by the NSF.
There are about three million internally-displaced persons in the country, virtually all in the North. But this does not appear to be a headache to the NSF.
The present preoccupation of the 58 senators from the North, going by the statement issued on Monday, January 22, 2024 by their Spokesperson, Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, NNPP- Kano South, are two. He said: “As representatives of the people at the national level (Senate), we are committed to addressing the concerns and feelings of our constituents regarding certain decisions and policies put forth by the Federal Government; and the lopsidedness in the distribution and allocation of resources in the 2024 budget, relocation of some federal agencies from Abuja to Lagos.”
These are tendentious issues which detract from the primary concerns of the Nigerian people who are under siege from bandits, hunger and of course, the political class that primarily takes care of its own interest, not that of the country.
To begin with, since the budget is scrutinised, and passes through the Senate before being adopted by the National Assembly, what stopped the 58 senators, claimed by the NSF, from raising the alleged lopsidedness and correcting it? I do not think it is a case that the remaining 48 senators overrode their colleagues. It will also be an insult for Senator Summaila to insinuate that the NSF members were dozing while the 2024 Budget was being discussed and passed.
Secondly, the Senator was vague on how the budgetary allocation did not favour the North and how inversely it favoured the South. It appears to me a strategy of trying to corner more of the budget in the name of the North.
I am sure if issues were raised in the NSF, the Senator would be more interested in addressing fundamental issues of the budget such as some 30 per cent going for debt servicing. If their concern about the budget was that not enough money was allocated to recruit more security personnel in the fight against insecurity, they would have gotten my support. If the concern of the NSF was that the budget should have addressed the issue of getting out-of-school children into school, it would have received the support of virtually all Nigerians.
In any case, why is it always some noise about allocation of funds, never what contributions are made to the national purse? Why are people like Senator Summaila always obsessed with sharing the national cake, but never about how the cake is baked?
Why are they not interested in building the country like Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dennis Osadebay and Obafemi Awolowo did in the First Republic rather than a mere continuation of military misrule? Why are they merely interested in auctioning the public assets built by past leaders rather than building on the legacy of the latter?
I find the second leg of the NSF protest, even more ridiculous. This is because while reacting to policies, they are expected to analyse them and present their position. But to merely proclaim their rejection like a religious doctrine, is unhelpful and counterproductive.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, stated that the planned relocation of some of its offices to Lagos is a “decongestion action plan designed to optimise the operational environment of the bank.” It added that: “This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilisation of our office space.” If any senator were to react negatively to this as Senator Summaila did, I expected him to present facts countering these arguments.
The Senator’s reaction gives the mistaken impression that the central bank of a country must be situated in the capital. This is incorrect. For instance, the European Central Bank is not in Berlin, the capital of Germany, but in Frankfurt.
Government says it wants to move the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria , FAAN, headquarters from Abuja to Lagos because the latter is the commercial capital and the hub of aviation business in Nigeria. Again I expect any senator opposing such move to give reasons. Human beings must show rationality; the aviation headquarters of a country does not necessarily need to be in the capital. In Germany, for instance, its aviation administrative headquarters is in Brunwick (Braurschweig) some 235.3 kilometres from Berlin, the country’s capital.
When the capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja, there was an unreasonable rush by agencies to move to the new capital. The Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, for instance built a huge edifice the Shippers’ House in Abuja as its new headquarters even when Abuja does not have a river. It was President Olusegun Obasanjo that ordered NPA back to Lagos.
In the same vein, I do not see the sense in the headquarters of the oil companies being in Lagos rather than the Niger Delta where oil is produced.
Despite his claims to the contrary, Senator Summaila’s statement is inciting and is maybe getting its intended results with some groups claiming the planned relocation is an attempt to marginalise the North as if Abuja belongs to a section, and not the entire country.
Those who play ethnic politics must know that they are like fleas feeding on the Nigerian dog; if it dies, they are unlikely to survive.
The Nigerian Army said its troops have neutralised 10 terrorists and arrested a bandit’s kingpin in clearance operations in North-West region.
The troops also apprehended arms smugglers and recovered ammunitions during the raids in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina States.
Capt. Yagata Ibrahim, the Information Officer, Joint Task Force, Operation Hadarin Daji, said this in a statement on Saturday in Gusau.
Ibrahim said the troops recorded tremendous successes in coordinated dry season clearance operations in the affected states.
“In a recent clearance operation conducted on Jan. 26, the troops cleared and destroyed terrorists’ enclaves at Pada, Matso-Matso and Yurlumu villages in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“During the operation, seven terrorists were neutralised while others escaped with severe gunshot wounds.
“In the same day, OPHD troops in Zamfara on fighting patrol neutralised two terrorists at Getso and Ubaka villages under Maru LGA.
“The troops recovered one AK47 Fifle, one magazine and 7.62mm special ammunition and two motorcycles,” he said.
The spokesman said the troops also responded to intelligence report on sighting terrorists movement along Sheme – Dandume road in Katsina State. The troops engaged the terrorists, killed one and forced them to flee.
Meanwhile, the troops arrested one Usman Abubakar also called (Harinde), a notorious bandits’ leader in Zamfara.
The army spokesman said the troops arrested the suspect on Jan. 26, following an intelligence report.
“Abubakar, 35, has been terrorising Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs, and other villages in Sokoto state.
“The troops also acted on credible intelligence on a group of notorious gunrunners with intentions to smuggle weapons in to the state which led to the arrest of three suspects in Shinkafi.
“The sum of N2.5 million, one Volkswagen wagon car, three mobile phones were recovered from the suspects”.
He said that a combined troops and personnel of Department of State Security Service (DSS), arrested a terrorists’ collaborator, one Ibrahim Atiku at Amawara village in Danmusa LGA of Katsina state.
According to him, all suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation before handing over to the appropriate security agencies for further actions.
The troops of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, deployed to Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba have neutralised three notorious bandits.
This is contained in a statement signed by Lt. Olabodunde Oni, Public Relations Officer of the brigade, in Jalingo on Thursday.
He said that the successful mission also resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, a motorcycle used by the criminals, and a cache of 40 rounds of 7.62 MM Special ammunition.
The public relations officer explained that the operation took place in Chibi, where the troops acting on actionable intelligence, conducted a precision strike against the criminals.
According to him, the engagement demonstrates the troops’ unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in Taraba.
The statement also said that the Commander 6 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Kingsley Uwa, commended the troops for show of bravery and efficiency in executing the operation.
Oni also said that the Brigade Commander emphasised the military’s determination to rid the state of criminals and ensure the safety and well-being of the local population.
Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has condoled with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) over the death of its two personnel serving in the State.
Alhaji Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, made this known in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
Recall that the two personnel, Isa Nafi’u and Garba Haruna Fana, lost their lives when a group of suspected bandits launched an attack on the officers on duty at Garin Garba entry point, about 12 kilometres away from Kangiwa, headquarters of Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi.
The third officer escaped unharmed.
The governor’s aide said Idris personally attended the funeral prayer for the personnel held in Birnin Kebbi and expressed dismay over the demise of the gallant officers.
He prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive their shortcomings and grant them Jannatul Firdaus.
Idris appealed to the immediate families of the deceased and the NIS to take heart and accept the will of God Almighty in good faith.
He said the sacrifice they made to the nation would never be forgotten as their lives were cut short in the service to their motherland.
The governor encouraged other personnel of NIS not to be deterred by the act of whom he described as notorious and bad elements in the society, urging them to continue with their legitimate and lawful duty as scheduled.
He assured that the government was doing everything possible to ensure protection of lives and property of people across the state.
Idris therefore appealed for cooperation and support to all policies and programmes of the present administration to enable it to succeed.
Minister of Defence, Muhammadu Badaru, has urged Nigerians to stop the illegal payment of ransom to kidnappers and bandits.
At a briefing after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, Badaru said the payment would only embolden the culprits to demand for more, thereby jeopardising public safety.
He said that the President, at a meeting on Tuesday with service chiefs, had directed security agencies to intensify efforts in flushing out the perpetrators of criminal acts in the society.
“Yesterday, we are aware Mr President called us and all the service chiefs to discuss this issue. So, concerted efforts is being done by security to stop it immediately.
“As you are aware, people are saying FCT, FCT, these kidnappings happen around the suburb, around locations that are bothering Kaduna and Niger states. And this is as a result of the current operations going on in the north west and some parts of north central.
“The bandits are fleeing and they are getting shelters around these areas and the security agencies are working very hard to push them out, block the movement and finish this thing once and for all,” he said.
He added that raising fund to pay ransom was an illegal act and an action that would further encourage the perpetrators in their nefarious acts.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate had passed the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 2022, into law and particularly amended Section 14.
The section says: “Anyone who transfers funds, makes payment or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper or terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.”
The minister urged Nigerians to avoid discussing security issues in the public or in the media because of its implications on thwarting the criminals by security agencies.
He said Nigerians should manage the kidnapping situation intelligently and quietly to achieve productive resolution of the incidences.
On the Ibadan explosion on Tuesday, Badaru said that a full investigation has commenced to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the tragic incidence.
“The governor said preliminary investigation suggests that there are some explosives around the area that are owned by illegal miners. Well, we have also seen another report suggesting also gas explosion.
“So, our team is there trying to find out what is the course.
“The council, to be proactive, has already set up a committee to look into how the control of explosive law is broken, if indeed there are explosives around the area where this incidents happened.”
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has lost two personnel to banditry attack in Kebbi.
Its State Command’s Spokesperson, DSI Abdullahi Isa, disclosed this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
He said: “On a sad note, on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, a group of suspected bandits launched an attack on Immigration Officers at Garin Garba entry point, about 12 kilometres away from Kangiwa headquarters of Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi.
“As a result, two gallant officers lost their lives. They are: Isa Nafi’u (II) NIS No. 34057 and Garba Haruna Fana (II) NIS No. 17796.”
The Spokesperson confirmed that the third officer escaped unharmed.
He revealed that the two deceased had been buried in Birnin Kebbi according to Islamic Injunction.
“May the Almighty Allah in His infinite mercy forgive their shortcomings and grant them Jannatil Firdaus and give their immediate families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss,” he said.