Tag: Banditry

Insecurity: “Lack of synergy amongst N/West govs., security agencies worsening situation” – Katsina SSG

Aminu Imam

The Secretary to the State Government of Katsina State, (SSG), Mustapha Muhammed Inuwa, has attributed the lack of synergy amongst the governors in the North-west and security agencies as one of the major indices behind the insecurity situation in the region. Inuwa, who made this assertion at a two-day capacity building workshop organised by the Katsina State Correspondents chapel, with the theme: “Journalism In The Midst of Insecurity”, opined that, if they can both work together, the menace could be ended in the affected states within a short period of…

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“Bandits are gang-raping us”, Zamfara women cry out

Aminu Imam

Several women displaced by a recent wave of attacks in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State have recounted the shocking ordeal of gang-rapes by terrorists. According to reports, hundreds of women and children were displaced in the wake of attacks by armed men on several villages in the area. In recent weeks, hundreds of women including children were displaced by the armed men following horrible attacks on several villages in the local government. A woman, identified simply as Hajara, has revealed how bandits open fire on women who rebuff…

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Escalating Insecurity: “Purchase guns, defend yourselves”, Masari advises Katsina residents

Aminu Imam

Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has for the second time in one year advised residents of Katsina State to buy guns and defend themselves against bandits since it has become clear according to him that security officials alone cannot tackle insecurity in the State. Recall that Katsina, like other North-western States of Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi, has witnessed incessant attacks by terror groups. Hundreds of people have been killed or kidnapped in Katsina this year with thousands more displaced from their homes. Speaking during a media parley with…

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Bandits kill many, kidnap 34 women, girls in Zamfara ? Report

Aminu Imam

Bandits have kidnapped over 34 women while dozens of others were killed in multiple attacks in some villages in Gusau local government of Zamfara State. According to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa report, the bandits attacked Geba and Gidan Kaura villages as well as some communities within the Gusau local government area of the State. The BBC report said a source stated that when the bandits invaded their communities, “they kidnapped some women and girls, while dozens of others were killed”. According to the source, “The bandits kidnapped ten…

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Three feared killed, many kidnapped as gunmen invade Zamfara communities

Aminu Imam

Three persons have reportedly been killed on Sunday, after gunmen, suspected to be terrorists, invaded some communities under Gusau local government area of Zamfara State. An unspecified number of villagers, mostly women, were reported to have been kidnapped during the assault. Some of the villages said to have been attacked include Geba, Tsakuwa, Gidan-Kada, Gidan-Kaura and a couple of others, all within Gusau LGA. A witness from one of the affected communities who spoke under anonymity explained that the bandits, who were on motorcycles, were moving from village to village…

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Kaduna Insecurity: Terrorists abduct Police officer’s wife, daughter, 4 others on Christmas night

Aminu Imam

No fewer than six people, including a Police officer’s wife, were kidnapped when bandits invaded Wusasa community, in the Zaria local government area of Kaduna State on Christmas night. The incident happened on Saturday night close to Kuregu Wusasa, opposite New ECWA Church. A source in the area had told newsmen yesterday, that the suspected terrorists stormed the area with arms and ammunition, whisking away five persons. It was further revealed that the bandits struck around 10:30 pm and went from house to house. According to reports, the wife of…

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Katsina governor rejects Turji’s ceasefire letter

Aminu Imam

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has kicked against dialogue with armed bandits operating in the state and other North-West States. Governor Masari, who spoke in an interview with DW Hausa Radio, was reacting to a controversial letter by a notorious bandit, Bello Turji, seeking dialogue with the government. Recall that Turji wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, and the Emir of Shinkafi seeking dialogue and a ceasefire. Some experts had argued that the letter by Turji was a ploy to stop air…

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Plateau: Terrorists abduct paramount ruler in Jos

Aminu Imam

Gunmen suspected to be bandits terrorising the Mangu local government area of Plateau State have kidnapped a paramount ruler of Gindiri, His Royal Highness, Charles Mato Dakota. It was learnt that the gunmen who were in their large number invaded the palace at midnight on Sunday and whisked the traditional ruler to an unknown destination. A source close to his palace told newsmen that the gunmen stormed the palace at precisely 12:45 am, overpowered the local security guards before gaining access to the inner building in the palace where the…

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1,081 terrorists, families surrender in 2 weeks, Nigerian Army claims

Aminu Imam

The Acting Director, De­fence Media Opera­tions, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, has disclosed that 1,081 terrorists with their families have surrendered to troops due to overwhelming kinetic and non-kinetic ac­tivities in two weeks. The Director, who stated this on Thursday, at the De­fence Headquarters, Abuja during a press briefing said, several other criminal ele­ments, including high pro­file ones, were either killed in action, or arrested, while many kidnapped civilians were rescued. Gen. Onyeuko, who gave the breakdown of the op­erational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria between 9th and 23rd…

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Taraba: Gunmen abduct worshippers inside mosque

Aminu Imam

Gunmen have attacked a Mosque at Tella town in Gassol local government area of Taraba State, abducting four worshippers. A resident of Tella, Suleiman Rabiu, told newsmen that the gunmen, roughly twelve in number, surrounded the mosque at about 7.12 p.m and abducted worshipers who were observing Isha’i prayers. According to him, the gunmen, after disrupting the prayer session, led out the worshipers from the mosque at gunpoint. The gunmen, he added, later released one person and took the remaining to an unknown location. Among those reportedly abducted are Alhaji…

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