While the federal and state governments step up efforts against banditry, the menace persists in several states, consuming many in its trail.
The Northwest has seen increased violence for some years now, but in the last five months, it has escalated into what many say is now an ‘organised crime’. Analysts have deduced that the crisis in the zone which started from local disputes between farmers and herders has taken a dangerous trend, threatening regional security and stability.
With the escalation of violence which has resulted in the loss of many lives and valuable property, President Muhammadu Buhari on May 17 ordered the start of a major military operation to sweep out bandits and kidnappers from Katsina, his home state.
Between January and April 2019, a number of operations by the Nigerian Army such as Operation Harbin Kunama, Operation Diran Mikiya and Operation Puff Adder were carried out in the bid to tackle banditry in the Northwest.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, on May 29 while on a courtesy visit to the to the Emir of Daura, Dr. Umar Farouk Umar, said the lingering banditry and other heinous crimes in the Northwest would soon be over.
Residents narrate ordeals
Residents told Daily Trust Saturday that 27 villages including Tintija, Duza, Tungar Mata, Natsira, Mallamawa, Tungar Daji and many others in Zamfara State have been deserted.
Aliyu Aminu, a resident of Kawaye, said the desertions took place within the past four months as a result of heightened banditry, causing many deaths.
In Kawaye district, Anka Local Government Area of the state, and especially in Sabon Birni- Gobirawa-Kawaye-Bagega axis of the district, more than 30 people were killed and about 60 were kidnapped by bandits in attacks on several villages in the past three months, residents said.
“This is the new way of life for us. Most of us have lost everything from family members, livestock and even the will to live any longer. The bandits have erased any good memory we had of life. This one security challenge will leave a deep cut in our hearts, even when and if it gets solved.” Adamu Idris, a resident of Gusau said.
Killings and kidnappings for ransom have continued in Zamfara State unabated despite the deployment of troops to the state by the federal government, Daily Trust findings showed.
In June last year, Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle initiated a peace deal with armed bandits. A lull prevailed for several months after the armed men agreed to halt attacks on communities.
However, the recalcitrant ones continued attacking villages and kidnapping residents for ransom.
Among many other incidents, 10 people were killed when armed bandits ambushed vehicles conveying traders along the Zamfara – Katsina road at a spot near Faru and Gurbin Bore in March this year.
One of the vehicles was conveying traders from Birnin Magaji Local Government Area to Batsari market in Katsina State while another was attacked while transporting another group of traders from Jibia in Katsina State to Shinkafi market in Zamfara State.
Also in March, bandits killed at least 15 people in Malele and Babban Kwari communities in Dansadau district, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Residents said the gunmen invaded the village located 10 km west of Dansadau town, firing shots at people indiscriminately. However, residents who got the wind of the attack responded, and were able to repel the bandits.
A village head and another person were killed by bandits in Kujemi village in Dansadau Emirate of Maru Local Government Area of the state last March.
At least eight members of the vigilante group otherwise known as ‘Yan Sakai’ were killed in Wanke district in Gusau Local Government Area when bandits struck.
Residents said the gunmen invaded Gobirawa village and seized 11 cows and other livestock after chasing people out of their homes. The armed men also killed one Bala Maigora, a prominent leader of vigilantes.
More attacks, more killings
At least 10 people were killed in attacks on three villages in Tsafe Local Government Area in mid May this year. Their bodies were brought to Magazu for burial. Last month, at least 25 persons were killed in attacks on several villages in Talata Mafara and Maru by the bandits. Also in Bindin district, 25 people were abducted and ransom was demanded for their release in June.
Then, came the attack on Ruwan Tofa community in Dansadau district in which 10 people were killed and dozens of cows and other domestic animals were seized about three weeks ago.
Where have the troops gone?
Residents said the deployment of troops in the state as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari had made no difference.
They said in Kawaye district of Anka Local Government Area, kidnappings still take place daily, making many farmers to desert their farms.
In Katsina, though residents of major areas facing attacks have testified to the presence of increased security personnel in the area with aerial bombardments by air force fighter jets, they noted that the activities of bandits still take place.
Residents of Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Batsari, Dandume, Sabuwa, Kankara and Faskari areas however acknowledged that alarming attacks have reduced unlike the mass attacks experienced in the past. They noted that people are still being killed and kidnapped in their farms.
Sani Aliyu, a resident of Faskari, said: “The attacks have reduced but there are still problems. Just yesterday, as soldiers were launching their operation in nearby Gonar Sarki area of the town, one farmer was killed and another was injured while some animals were rustled from farmers by bandits.”
Sani noted that some of the bandits also mocked the military presence in the area, saying, “Where are the soldiers now as we are here?”
Sani questioned what the presence of the military implied; “We have been seeing planes bombing the forests but the bandits are still there. I must say the attacks have reduced unlike before, but kidnapping of farmers on their farms is what is happening now.”
Aminu Lawal, a resident of Batsari said: “We have not seen any change, even this Tuesday Barakada village was attacked, just two kilometres from the town, Batsarin Alhaji village was also attacked same day.”
“The soldiers don’t come when we are being attacked but we see them stationed at Kandawa and Wagini villages,” he said.
Aminu added that on Tuesday, the bandits attacked Gaurawa village along Ruma town, went to farms, beat up farmers and went with away with 10 cows, less than three kilometres to the soldiers’ camp and nothing happened.
Zaharadeen Musa said, “The truth is that it has reduced drastically because it takes three to four days before the report of an attack is recorded unlike before which was on daily basis.”
A resident of Kankara told our reporter that after an attack on Sunday when nine persons were killed at Bakkai village in Kankara, Katsina State four Nigerian Air Force jets were seen hovering the forest and dropping bombs on Monday morning.
“There were attacks on the 26th of June at the residence of Alhaji Sule Gidan Kuli where his wife and daughter were abducted. Also, Alhaji Shuaibu Danbabale and Alhaji Garba were on the 27th of June abducted in Kankara town and Zurunkutun village.” he said.
Aminu Koshe, the chairman of the vigilante group in Kankara, said the attacks, especially kidnapping, had continued in remote areas, but added that he heard of aerial bombardment from time to time.
He said they had lost many members trying to protect the people, noting, “l cannot categorically tell you how many for now but the number is high.”
A clash between vigilante members and bandits on June 16 at Dajin Gwamma in Dan Ali village of Danmusa LGA left five dead. Two of the deceased, Abdullahi Lawal (aka Kirgi) and Isiya Kanawa were vigilante members based in Dan Ali village.
Masari speaks
Governor Aminu Masari said the army most do the needful by clearing all those living in the forest to rid the state of bandits.
He noted that bandits had in the past converted some schools and clinics to camps but that the recent military intervention had forced them to flee back to the forests.
Masari urged the military to sustain the tempo and not allow the current insecurity to continue to linger.
In Sokoto, the activities of bandits have also led to the loss of many lives and left thousands displaced, especially in the eastern part of the state.
Bandits had resurfaced in Sabon Birni, Isa, Rabah, Tureta, Kebbe and Goronyo local government areas of the state, despite the truce brokered with some of them by Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s administration.
The state witnessed the most gruesome attack in Sabon Birni Local Government Area where more than 70 lives were lost on May 27 this year. Residents said a number of residents of the area had died in previous attacks.
The State Emergency Management Agency Director-General, Alhaji Nasiru Aliyu, said banditry in the area had claimed 105 lives and displaced 12,753 people within two months.
We’ve got some respite—Monarch
Following the May attack, security was reinforced in the area. The Sarkin Gobir of Sabon Birni in Sabon Birni LGA, Alhaji Isa Muhammadu Bawa, applauded the army for the on-going military operation in the locality.
“We are now sleeping peacefully, unlike before when we were experiencing attacks almost on daily basis,” he said.
“The moment we receive information and notify the army, they respond swiftly,” he added.
We can’t return home, can’t farm—Displaced villagers
However, some villagers displaced by bandits in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state since last year said they were afraid to return home, lamenting that bandits had continued to terrorize some communities neighbouring theirs.
They urged authorities to secure their camps and villages to enable them return home and continue their farm work.
