By Suleiman Umaru
More facts have emerged why banditry activities are pronounced in the north western states of Zamfara, Sokoto,and Katsina , including Niger, home state of former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, rtd.
in This is because the Bandits Group Leaders notorious including Bello Turji, and their armed followers , had taken over the forests in the flashpoint north western states, which has become a home somwhat for the runaway bandits who has been flushed out from Burkina Faso forests, by the country’s military and relocated to Nigeria, where they were said to have taken over Kainji forest in Niger state to set up Camps to attack Communities, kill and kidnap for ransom.
Many believe that the notorious bandits Leaders and their armed Leaders may have been encouraged to intensify their terrorism activities by the trio of Bello Matawalle , minister of state, Defence, Aminu Tambuwal, who was a former Speaker of House of Representatives and Abubakar Sani . The trio were all former governor of Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states.of Niger, states respectively who were said to have negotiated negotiated with the bandits’ group leaders for peace and reconciliation.
Matawalle, who could not hide his feelings had said that ‘’peace, reconciliation and dialogue with the criminal elements is the best options for addressing the security challenges in the in the state and other states in the north western geopolitical region.
He was emphatic that he and the other two north western states took the bold initiative to dialogue with the bandits’ group leaders to end the insecurity in their respective states and allow the people go about their normal business with fear of being killed or being kidnapped for ransom but that was how far they could go.
Abubakar Bagudu, a former governor of Kebbi state and now minister of Budget and National Planning under the Tinubu’s Administration may not have found it necessary to negotiate with the bandits leaders which may have informed why they could not predict him, let alone concentrate much of their efforts in attacking the state, for fear of the unknown because of the topography of the state, as it Niger borders Niger and Republic of Benin, by land and rivers.
The bandits may have extended their attack to Kaduna state, under the Leadership of Nasir El-Rufai, a former minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, during the Olusegun Obasanjo’s Administration, despite not negotiating with the criminals over undisclosed reasons.
The bandits group Leaders, and their armed followers, who are now attacking the flashpoint states at ease may have made their demands the governors during negotiations which may not have kept, forcing the armed bandits to intensify their operations in the states to show that the negotiations has broken down.
Security experts believe that if Matawalle, Tambuwal and Sani, had not negotiated with the bandits group gang leaders, which may have given them the impression that they are very important, to maintain the security of the state, they could not have had the audacity to go about with sophisticated weapons to attack Communities and kidnap innocent victims to make demands for ransom which runs into millions of naira.
Indeed, Zamfara, state may have become more attractive to the bandits’ group fights because of alluvial gold, limestone, Kaolin and other solid minerals in the state which they could mine illegally with their foreign collaborators to raise funds to buy arms to protect their business.
Dauda Lawal, the incumbent opposition People’s Democratic governor of Zamfara state, had said that no amount o explanation that Matawalle, his predecessor will give that he is not one of the sponsors of the bandits goup because of his alleged link with the notorious turji.
Bashir Hadeijia, who was said to have worked closely with Matawalle in office as governor of the north western Zamfara state, believed to have been born in Republic of Niger and maintains a home theire just like Abubakar Badaru, the minister of Defence, would not take it from Gov. Lawal .
Hadeijia, who could beat his chest that former Gov. Matawale did much in office to curb the excesses of the bandits while power, would want Gov. Lawal to support the minster’s efforts in tackling insecurity in the region instead of sabotaging every of his moves.
Given the allegations by Gov. Lawal and Gen. Aliyu Gusau, a former National Security Adviser, NSA, during the Babangida’s Administrations, against that former Gov. Matawale of sponsoring banditry in the state may have informed why the Defence Headquarters have stepped ‘’to investigate the allegations to get to the root of the matter’’.
The ex-Zamfara state governor, may have broken his allegations against him by the duo of Gov. Lawal and Aliyu Gen. Aliyu Gusau, a former National Security Adviser, during former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s Administration, of sponsoring banditry in the huge mineral deposit state that he has no links with the bandits’ leaders whatsoever. The minister had said that the elites including his two major accusers, Gov. Lwal and Ge. Gusu, rtd, are the ones that have dealings with the bandits in the state.
Turji, the notorious bandits group leader may have known that the game is up because of the air raids of the forests in Zamfara, that was said to have killed many of the armed bandits that he and others were said to have sent a message to Gov. Lawal, to take a cue from his predecessor, Matawalle to negotiate with th bandits for peace to reign in state.
The Zamfara state governor may have shocked the bandits’ group leaders and their sponsors that the state state government under his leadership will not consider the appeal of the terrorists to stop bombing their hideouts in the forests.
The Zamfara state governor was said to have made it clear that his government would sustain its efforts in fighting the armed terrorists, stating that his Administration would not negotiate with the criminal element. Hear him: you don’t negotiate will killers while they wielded dangerous weapons.
Appealing to the gun trotting bandits to lay down their arms and surrender themselves to the authorities, he stated that it is the only way the government can weigh the next step to take. There is no gain saying the fact that the military over the last couple of weeks has killed scores of bandits group gang leaders and their armed follers in the north west and north state of Niger following a renewed offencive in the ongoing operation Ceton Arewa which was said to have started a few weeks ago and more are still going to be killed, until they finally surrender, a senior Nigerian Air Force , NAF, officer had aid.
The Leadership of the NAF, who were said to be working closely with Gov. Lawal, to cub the excesses of the armed bandits may have sent a message to the armed bandits that it is no longer going to be business as usual as the air component Whirl Punch , won’t stop bombing the bandits hideouts until the people OFZamfara and the entire nor western region go on with their daily lives without threat to their lives and properties. An insider confirmed that there have several air interdictions in the general area in the recent, thus giving the armed bandits no breather to launch a counter -attack.
. The roll calls of the notorious bandits group leaders who have been killed in the recent time includeslike Kahalla Halilu Sububu, Kachalla Nagala, Kachalla Mai Shayi, Yello Mai Bille, Sn Zakwaui Yelloww and Zagzola. Other Bandits group Leaders who said to have been killed includes Kachalla Damuna Mai Yar Gitta, Buhari Alhai Halidu , Boderi Isyaku, Kachalla Dan Chaki, Dogo, Gudali, Dogo Rabe Alhaji Auta, Kachalla Ruga. Also killed by the military in the ranks of bandits group leaders were Rufai Maikai, Ya’u, Alhai Karki, Kachalla Sani Black, and Kachalla Makore including Kachalla Tukur Sharme .
The Nigerian President may have hit the nailon the head when he disclosed in the country’s 64 th , Independence anniversary speech that 3within one year of the Administration, the military has eliminated over 300 , Islamic Fundamentalist Group, BokoHaram and the Islamic State of West African Province ,ISWAP, as well as Bandits Grrop Commanders.
The re are indications that the heat has turned against the bandits leaders have become so confused that they could as well kill each other over leadership struggle. Take for instance, Kachalla Gajere , was said to have killed Kachalla Tsoho Lulu in Anka forest Camp.
Muhammad Badaru, minister of Defence had reported that the with the improved coordination among the service chiefs and other security agencies , it has resulted in the killing of over 9,300 armed followers of the deceased bandits group leaders in the north western states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna , Katsina and Niger states.
The deplection of the anks of the bandits over the last five months clearly shows that banditry will soon be a thing of the past confirming what Sambo Dangaladima, an Assistant Comptroller General, ACG, of Customs had said.
An elated President Tinubu had aid that ‘’as soon peace could be restored to many Communities in the troubled north western and north central geopolitical regions including Borno and Yobe states, which had been under the siege of the Insurgents over the years, the farmers should be to return to their farms. He is optimistic that there would be a leap in food production and a downward spiral in prices of food stuff, across the country.
