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Tag: Zamfara

  • Gunmen kill two Zamfara federal poly staff for alerting neighbours of their presence

    Gunmen kill two Zamfara federal poly staff for alerting neighbours of their presence

    The Police in Zamfara have confirmed the murder of two staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura-Namoda, by gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday.

    SP Mohammed Shehu, Spokesperson of the Zamfara Police Command, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Gusau on Wednesday.

    According to him, the gunmen came to the house of one of the victims, Usama Nazifi, located in the low cost area of the town, asking him to open the door to his flat.

    When Nazifi shouted for help, his invaders were forced to retreat, unknown to him that they had only gone to hide somewhere in the neighbourhood.

    The witness said that at this point, his next door neighbour, Bashiru Mohammed, came into Nazifi’s house to find out what was happening.

    The source, however, said the gunmen suddenly reappeared while Nazifi and Mohammed were still discussing the matter and opened fire on them, killing the two instantly before taking off.

    Meanwhile, the police spokesman said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Abutu Yaro, had already dispatched personnel from the command to trail and bring the assailants to book.

    “A discreet investigation is in progress with a view to unravelling the motives behind the killing, so that justice can take its course on any person or group found in connection with the act,” he said.

    The police spokesman called on the people of the area to assist in providing credible information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits.

  • Matawalle secures release of district head, councillor, two other kidnap victims in Zamfara

    Matawalle secures release of district head, councillor, two other kidnap victims in Zamfara

    Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has again secured the release of four kidnap victims without ransom.

    The victims who had been in captivity for 49 days said they were abducted in Boko community of Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

    Among them is a District Head and a serving Councillor in Zurmi Local government area of the state

    This comes barely three weeks after the state government facilitatade the release of 10 abducted residents of the state.

    It is however not clear whether a ransom was paid to the bandits before the victims were released.

    On March 9, the state government through the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Dauran, announced that the victims who had been in captivity for over three months and two weeks abducted in the Gwaram community of Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

    Among them are three men, including the father of one of the abducted Jangebe School Girls, four women and three children.

    Dauran, said they were rescued without ransom through the peace initiative of the state government.

    He explained that the state government will continue with the peace dialogue, noting it is paving way for lasting peace in the state.

  • Gov. Matawalle swears with Quran, challenges citizens to do same over banditry sponsorship in Zamfara

    Gov. Matawalle swears with Quran, challenges citizens to do same over banditry sponsorship in Zamfara

    Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has sworn with the Quran that he has no connection with bandits disturbing the peace in the state.

    He also challenged residents of the state, irrespective of their status, to do the same to prove that they have no hands in the security challenges bedevilling the state.

    The governor gave the challenge on Sunday in Gusau, the state capital while receiving an award as the Khadimul Quran conferred on him by the Centre for Quranic Reciter, Nigeria.

    “As I’ve been mentioning, the issue of insecurity is not just for Federal Government, governor or other security agencies; the issue of insecurity is for all of us, and we should not politicise the issue of insecurity.

    “I have sworn with the Holy Quran that if I know, or if I am part of, or I know anybody who is coordinating this (banditry), or with my hand or any of my family, may Allah not give me (speaks in Arabic) in this life,” he said.

    Governor Matawalle added, “I dare all the people from Zamfara State, from our father, Aliyu Gusau to Yarima Bakura and all the cabinet members, right from the inception of the political dispensation of the state, to take this oat as I did.”

    He explained that in taking up the challenge, it would be easy for residents to identify those behind the prevailing insecurity and ensure peace was restored in the state.

    The governor described the present security situation as worrisome, despite efforts to tackle the menace.

    He stressed that as the Chief Security Officer of Zamfara, he would do everything possible to provide a secured and peaceful environment.

    Governor Matawalle said it was important for residents to be able to go about their lawful businesses without fear of anyone harming them.

    He assured the people of his administration’s commitment to addressing the lingering security challenges in Zamfara in the north-west region of the country.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Sheikh Gumi and the holy bandits of Zamfara- Hope Eghagha

    Three odd weeks or so ago, the media went wild with all shades of wickedly frivolous reactions to the inanely profound submission by the highly cerebral, knowledgeable, immensely nationalistic, and revered Sheikh, His Holiness Mallam Ahmad Gumi, negotiator-par-excellence on banditry. Sheikh Gumi, as we know, is an Islamic scholar with an international reach whose word amounts to a decree to his followers, in the manner of fatwa or something equally horrendous in 21st century Nigeria, a country which combines the ancient, anachronistic with modern forms of governance and social relations in a most confusing manner- like parading cows along the streets of a modern city like Abuja at peak hour.

    The bearded look of the Sheikh is enough testimony to the profundity of his faith, you know, the hood and the monk which you can only separate at your own peril, never mind the fact that there is the politics of religion and the religion of politics like the political sharia declared by Zamfara Governor (the man who loves under-aged girls as wife) in the days of President Obasanjo which the latter wisely dismissed with a wave of his left hand to avoid the bait of a religious war! It was therefore rather befuddling to me that when he made saints out of bandits, some ignorant patriots started calling for him to be crucified. One group indeed called on the DSS to arrest this great man who has Lilliputian respect for the federal and legal systems which we operate! And by the way, with the introduction of Sharia in Zamfara State over a decade ago, it is clear even to the blind that crime rate has dropped drastically and that most of the scoundrels who raid homes and kidnap people are strangers from outside the state. Else, Sheikh Gumi would have prescribed amputation as punishment. But the wise and knowledgeable one decided to canonize the bandits as holy. This is indeed the background to the title of this essay- Sheikh Gumi and the holy Bandits of Zamfara!

    Zamfara State has been under attack by bandits, men and may be women, who raid communities and plunder the wealth of others. The discovery and exploitation of gold in that State has raised questions about how united we are as a country, with one policy uniformly or otherwise being applicable to the entire federation. This is not the focus of my essay today. I am not going to quote my professor colleague who always argues that there are two Nigerias, Nigeria for the power elite and Nigeria for the poor and oppressed peoples of Nigeria! Nigeria which says that control over natural resources are vested in the federal government and the Nigeria which says the gold resource in Zamfara belongs to the government of Zamfara, the result of insulting impunity, which we know, cannot and will not continue ad infinitum! As earlier indicated, I am mainly concerned with the great man Sheikh Gumi and his deliberate wise and patriotic understanding of ‘his’ Nigeria!

    While trying to make peace with the bandits of Zamfara, his Holiness Sheikh Gumi declared that ‘bandits are not criminals’. He had been to see and negotiate with the bandits, had given them huge sums of money as evidenced in some videos in circulation. The objective is to buy peace, after admonishing them not to attack innocent men and women. He also wisely told them that it was soldiers of Christian extraction that were fighting them. The Nigeria Army was wrong to point out to the learned Sheikh that it does not prosecute wars on religious lines. I am sure Gumi saw with his spiritual eyes that it is only Christian soldiers that fight in Zamfara and Borno States! Of course, Sheikh Gumi is a very prudent and wise negotiator who would not like to set Christians against Muslims. However, all is fair in war, we should know that!

    My dictionary says that a bandit is ‘an outlaw who lives by plunder, especially a member of a band of marauders; a robber’. Well, this dictionary must be wrong, dead wrong by the standards of Zamfara. Perhaps His Holiness consulted another dictionary, unknown to us mere mortals unschooled in the ways of sheikhs, those who can turn unholiness to holiness, like conjuring the devil with incantations or with purifying a man who has raped a girl child by declaring it a religious obligation to convert an infidel? Or is it a case of one man’s terrorist being another man’s freedom fighter?

    I am sure the learned Sheikh was not amused when Chief of Staff Professor Ibrahim Gambari held a meeting with northern governors and delivered President Buhari’s bombshell order to the effect that criminals should not be glorified with any Robin Hood nonsense, and that any herdsman seen with AK-47 should be shot in the military tradition of fighting a war, no trials, no niceties of law! Lord have mercy! Mr. President simply challenged the authority of the Learned Mallam! You know, some religious leaders tend to pontificate on all issues. The matter will be laid to rest when Nigerians see the real action. By the way, the OPC guys who caught notorious kidnapper Wakili were arrested by the Nigeria Police. Is this an extension of the Gumi philosophy? Will Gumi still be sent for negotiations? In my view, he should handle all negotiations on behalf of Nigeria. He is such an excellent negotiator, especially with bandits.

    As for those who contend that Gumi is right because the work of EFCC shows that bandits govern the country, I have nothing to say to them. But they must show respect to holy bandits, that is, bandits who steal to help the poor. They are not criminals because Sheikh Gumi has taught us that there is a distinction between banditry and criminality. This is how religious bias influences the use of language and helps the cause of justice in the land. If those holy bandits were brought before a court headed by an acolyte of the Sheikh, do you think he would be punished? Isn’t that the real challenge we have in the country- definition of criminality based on the calibre of the persons involved.

    Professor Eghagha can be reached at heghagha@yahoo.com

  • Bandits attack Zamfara communities again, kill scores of villagers

    Bandits attack Zamfara communities again, kill scores of villagers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Buhari deploys 6000 troops to Zamfara

    Buhari deploys 6000 troops to Zamfara

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the deployment of 6000 troops to Zamfara State.

    Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle made the announcement in a broadcast on Tuesday evening.

    He said he undertook a four day working visit to Abuja to brief President Muhammadu Buhari and other critical stakeholders on security situation of the state.

    “In the fall out my discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari and the security higher commands in Abuja, it was resolved that 6000 additional troops will be deployed to the state to complement the effort of other security forces in tackling the security challenges in the state”

    “The troops will soon arrive the state for their operations and we are grateful to the federal government. As you may recall Mr President has ordered the security operatives to shoot dead any found illegally bearing rifle.

    “The president has agreed to a timeframe within which the recalcitrant bandits should surrender their weapons and key in to our peace initiative. As you are aware, the peace deal initiated by my administration has recorded success including the disarmament, securing the release of hundreds of kidnapped persons, reopening of markets and the resumption of other economic activities across the state.

    “Even though, we are enjoying relative peace as result of this dialogue and reconciliation programme, some armed bandits refused to key in to this programme and they sustain their attacks on our communities. The government has equally observed that there is sabotage by some unscrupulous elements within and outside the state.

    “The state government has decided to take the following measures with immediate effect: traditional rulers and local council administrators should remain in their domains to monitor the movement or influx of suspicious characters.

    “Conveyance of more than two persons on a motorbike is hereby banned with immediate effect, no movement of motorcycles in groups in all the nooks and crannies of the state and security operatives are directed to apprehend the violators of this order,” Matawalle said.

    Governor Matawalle further reaffirmed ban on the activities of Yan Sakai (vigilantes) in the state, adding that whoever is found with gun would be dealt with.

  • Rampaging bandits kidnap 100 miners, kill 10, says Zamfara Emir

    Rampaging bandits kidnap 100 miners, kill 10, says Zamfara Emir

    No fewer than 100 miners operating between Anka and Maru Local Government Areas of Zamfara state in Nigeria’s north west, have been abducted by bandits.

    The Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, disclosed this on Tuesday in Gusau.

    Ahmad, who is also the Chairman of the state Council of Chiefs, made this known when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor led service chiefs on an assessment visit to Gov. Bello Matawalle.

    According to him, the bandits also killed 10 persons during an invasion of a mining site in the state.

    He said the incident, which occurred on March 2, was over-shadowed by the abduction of the 279 Jangebe schoolgirls, by another gang of bandits on the same day.

    “The bandits have been attacking those involved in artisanal mining and carting away their money and property.

    “There is a disconnect between miners and bandits in the state, so we were surprised when the declaration of ‘no fly zone’ was recently slammed on our state over suspected arms supply and illegal mining when the state does not even have an airport.

    “We know that there are states with more security challenges than Zamfara and we expected that if such order would be issued, it should also cover such states.

    “Our artisanal miners, who are licenced, have been very helpful to the state’s economic growth and they have played significant roles in ameliorating the hardship faced by IDPs in the state by supporting them,” he said.

    The first class traditional ruler, who called for more security personnel to fight banditry in the state, noted that “the peace and dialogue initiative of our governor has become necessary because at the moment we have fewer than 5,000 securitymen fighting over 30,000 bandits,” he said.

    Ahmad however assured the service chiefs that people in the state would continue to pray for their success.

    He urged the CDS to ensure that there is synergy among all segments of the military during operations in order to block all escape routes against the criminals.

    Responding, the CDS commended the role played by the traditional rulers in fighting crime and urged them to continue to engage their subjects in giving credible information that would lead to the containment of bandits.

    On his part, Matawalle assured that his administration would intensify its peace and dialogue as well as support the security in sustaining onslaught against unrepentant bandits.

  • A country led by the blind and deaf – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa

    THE story of 14-year-old Habiba, a student of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, is heart-wrenching.

    Bandits raided her home three months ago, killing her uncle and abducting her father and elder sister. Then on February 26, 2021 bandits invaded her school, abducted her and 316 other girls aged between 12 and 17 years. When they got to the kidnappers camp, she met her father and sister who had been unable to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

    Habiba, from Ankah Local Government Area, said her father warned her not to let the bandits know their relationship as they might kill him.

    She told the Daily Trust Newspapers: “They inflicted injury on him by cutting him with machete and beatings. Whenever I saw them beating him, I would cry.

    What is more annoying is that the Nigerian state which could not protect the children against bandits, further endangered the lives of the children, their parents and guardians by pointedly shooting at them after their release.

    It was really disturbing. They said they would kill them if ransom is not paid.” She was released with her colleagues after four days. Imagine the trauma of a mere 14-year-old.

    What is more annoying is that the Nigerian state which could not protect the children against bandits, further endangered the lives of the children, their parents and guardians by pointedly shooting at them after their release. Parents were said to have been worried that the handover ceremony of the girls was getting too prolonged and they needed to get back to their homes before it got dark as the roads are unsafe. At a point they began to throw stones at government officials and the armed forces responded by shooting live ammunition at them resulting in casualties.

    Meanwhile, the same Zamfara State continued to witness more kidnapping with a fresh batch of 60 women and children kidnapped in a single bandit operation. At the weekend, the bandits extended their theatre of operation by attacking the Kaduna International Airport and abducting nine.

    Despite the grave security situation in the country which calls for unity of purpose and action, the political elite are busy at diversions and bickering. For example, as a security measure, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, declared a no-fly zone across Zamfara State and banned all mining activities. However, the State Governor, Bello Matawalle, made jest of the order saying: “People don’t even know that Zamfara does not have an airport.”

    He said the order was an attempt to impose a state of emergency and said claims that the bandits are getting arms supply by aircraft is a lie: “It is just misinformation and if anybody has that proof, he should prove it beyond reasonable doubt.” He said that by such decision it seems the Federal Government “doesn’t understand the nature of the security problems in Zamfara State, but if they decided to take such action let them go ahead.” Although Matawalle later made a half-hearted acceptance of the order, it was clear he does not believe it will address the security challenges in the state.

    In another part of the country, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who had said regardless of the country’s laws, Fulani herders should carry guns, accused his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom of criminalising the entire Fulani across the country.

    Ortom, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, like Mohammed, replied: “Since he (Bala Mohammed) has chosen to vilify and intimidate me, I am compelled to think that he is one of the Fulani terrorists terrorising this country. Why did I say so?

    “This is the same governor who took oath of office to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution does not give room or allow foreign armed Fulani herdsmen, Tiv people or Yoruba or any ethnic group to come in and to carry arms.” Both governors are still trying to patch their differences.

    South West Governors have tried to stem the tide of kidnapping and banditry in the region by banning open grazing, grazing at night, grazing by underage children and cattle movement within the cities and on highways. They also banned herders from living or operating from the government forest reserves. But Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, shot verbal missiles at the governors, saying their decision was responsible for the flare up of ethnic violence in the region.

    Lawan claimed that: “Leadership failures in the region caused what happened in Oyo State and other things that kept happening in the South Western states. “Some utterances by some governors also went a long way in inciting the citizens to take up arms against other ethnic groups settling in their states. The governors’ utterances emboldened the criminals to unleash violence against the Northerners.” The governors chose largely to ignore Lawan perhaps they thought it better not to dignify him with a serious response.

    Yet, another missile from the Senate. Senator Smart Adeyemi while contributing to a motion on Safe School Initiative in the country veered off to attack Abia State leaders. He claimed that: “In some states where we have highly intelligent people, highly educated people, very enterprising people, like Abia, they are governed by drunkards.

    The governor of Abia is a champagne drinking man. Abia people are impoverished more than ever before. Abia people are unfortunate.” Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu responded: “What you say, the things you say, and where you say them speaks a lot about who you are. According to Chinua Achebe: If a mad man takes your clothes while bathing and you take off after him naked, no one will know who is mad between the two of you.”

    Meanwhile in Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma squared up in an armed conflict with his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, a serving senator. This involved security men and hoodlums reportedly armed with grenades, guns, cudgels and bottles. It centred around property owned by Okorocha but which Uzodimma said had been confiscated by the state government.

    Okorocha who seemed to have lost this round of the battle told the country: “They shot my aides and destroyed all my cars… More than 200 gunshots were fired at my aides. Hope Uzodimma wants to rule Imo State by intimidation.” Uzodimma responded that his predecessor is a hoodlum: “He went there with thugs himself physically, wounded the policemen there, and wounded the civil defence people…” The second part of the battle is awaited.

    In the South West, immediate past Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was busy in battle against incumbent Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in a power struggle within the PDP.

    In the midst of these leadership crises, we have a governor like Yahaya Bello who, despite the death of over 2.5 million persons, including 1,954 Nigerians from COVID-19, is incapable of comprehending the scientific truth that the pandemic is real, saying he wants to be President. Why are we so blessed?

  • No-fly zone: We have no links with bandits, miners begs FG

    No-fly zone: We have no links with bandits, miners begs FG

    National President, Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kabir Kankara, has revealed that miners do not have any links with bandits.

    “To the best of my knowledge, our members have no connection with bandits, we are in line with any measure proffered by the Federal Government to forestall insecurity in Zamfara,” he told the newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    “Yes, our mining activities occur in the bush but we do not have links with bandits, we are just victims of circumstance,” he said.

    He spoke against the backdrop of the recent Federal Government ban on mining activities in Zamfara, due to the upsurge in banditry.

    Kankara noted that tackling insecurity in the state was a timely and welcome development, as it was for the safety of lives and property.

    The Federal Government on Tuesday, announced a complete ban on mining activities in Zamfara, declaring the State a “no-fly zone.”

    The President approved the ban on all mining activities in the state with immediate effect until further notice.

    Dele Ayanleke, National Secretary of MAN, said that miners were not against any measure taken by the Federal government to forestall insecurity in the country.

    Ayanleke advised the government to take steps to ensure that artisanal miners do not encroach into sites belonging to mining titleholders during the period of the ban.