…Says they use blood for sacrifice
Kebbi State government has raised the alarm over the emergence of a new terror group called the ‘Sai Malam’ in parts of the state, warning that the sect must be profiled and tackled before it grows into a major security threat.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Home Affairs, Col. Hassan Riba, (rtd), raised the concern during a stakeholders’ security meeting held on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
The meeting was attended by representatives of traditional rulers, district heads, union leaders and heads of security agencies in the state. Also present was the Deputy Inspector-General of Police supervising the North-West geo-political zone, Sulaiman Abba, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Olakung Edna.
Speaking at the meeting, Riba said the group was first discovered in Zuru emirate, where security agencies debriefed its members. He, however, said the sect had resurfaced in Argungu, where its presence had become more pronounced.
“We have one burning issue now, which is the discovery of another terror group. They are called ‘Sai Malam‘. We destroyed them in Zuru when we discovered them. But I was in Argungu, and I was informed that they use blood for sacrifice among their members. It is high time the Police took note of this sect and deal with it decisively”, he said. According to him, the group was first identified in Sokoto State, where security agencies were already working to combat it.
The Security Adviser assured residents that the Kebbi State government was working closely with security agencies to address the threat and prevent the sect from spreading to other parts of the state. He said Gov. Nasir Idris had continued to engage security agencies, providing logistics, materials and funding to strengthen operations against bandits, Lakurawa, Maitatsine and other criminal elements. “Kebbi State Government is on top of the situation”, he added.
