…as gunmen intensify attacks on residents, kidnap over 100 in one week
Abducted woman delivers baby in captivity
With the formation of the 8,500-strong Civilian Joint Task Force by the Governor Abdul Aziz Yari of Zamfara State, many had thought the heinous reign of the bandits terrorising the state for a long time would be brought to a quick end.
But that has not been the case as the hoodlums seem to have intensified their reign of terror over the defenceless and hapless citizens of the state. Only recently, no fewer than ten members of the Civilian JTF fell victims and were killed in an ambush laid by the bandits in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.
Also, in the past one week, sources claimed, over a hundred innocent residents of the state have been kidnapped by the bandits. The victims included a pregnant woman, who delivered her baby in the custody of her abductors.
Zamfara is among the states of the federation worse hit by the problem of insecurity. Various measures taken by both the state and the Federal Government to address the issue have been to no avail.
It was in an attempt to bring a lasting solution to this ugly trend that Governor Yari recruited the 8,500 people to serve as members of the Civilian JTF and to work side by side with the security agencies in fighting the bandits.
The bandits are now on the rampage, killing and kidnapping the people of the state, particularly those they perceive as JTF members. From last week to date, more than one hundred persons have been kidnapped by the bandits, including a pregnant woman on labour from Danjibga village in Tsafe Local Government Area, who delivered later in the hands of her abductors
Since their recruitment, the Civilian JTF members have been rendering tremendous services towards the curtailment of criminal activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping and cattle rustling. Being sons of the soil who know the terrain, they lead the security personnel to the criminals’ hideout as well as some black spots, where criminal activities are perpetrated.
This has greatly assisted the security agents in arresting many criminals who are either handed over to the police for further investigation, or killed in a gun battle as attested to by the Acting Director, Information of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General J. A. Agim, while briefing newsmen in Gusau last Tuesday.
According to General Agim, the Army has neutralised 20 armed bandits and arrested 21 of them, who were handed over to the police for prosecution. The Army spokesman also stated that some items recovered from the bandits included 21 Donkeys, 11camels, 200 goats, over 1000 cows, 21 motorcycles, 48 locally made guns, 47 AK47 rifles, over 40 magazines with over 1000 live ammunition.
He maintained that the aim of the combined task force was to ensure that communities were living peacefully in the state devoid of crime and urged the residents of the state to continue to give all the necessary support to the troops to enhance success.
SETBACK FOR CIVILIAN JTF
The Civilian JTF, however, suffered a very serious setback last Monday, as earlier envisaged, when ten of their members were killed in an ambush by the bandits in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.
According to a source, the civilian JTF members who were from Kurya and Kware villages were returning from a meeting in Shinkafi town, when they were ambushed by the bandits, who had laid ambush on the road.
The source added that the attack by the bandits led to the death of 10 of the JTF members, while many others sustained serious injuries.
But the Zamfara State Police Command said the members of the Civilian JTF who were killed in the ambush were not up to that number.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the ambush, said on that fateful day the command received a distress call at about 18: 05 hours that civilian JTF members of Kurya and kware villages in Shinkafi LGA were ambushed by suspected bandits along Shinkafi road, on their way back to their respective villages.
According to the PPRO, upon the receipt of the report, a combined team of PMF, CTU and ‘F’SARS led by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Shinkafi quickly moved to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. One dead body was recovered while two other victims, who sustained gunshot injuries, were rushed to the Shinkafi General Hospital for treatment.
The police spokesman added that several motorcycles belonging to the Civilian JTF members were set ablaze by the bandits, adding that the police had since moved to the bush to pursue the culprits and appealed to members of the public to always cooperate with the security agents in the fight against the bandits.
“People should report any suspicious movement or character to any nearby police station for prompt action,” the PPRO said.
FIGHTBACK
There was also a similar incident at Dogon Kade market in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state last week when an eye witness confirmed to our reporter that the civilian JTF members killed some Fulani herdsmen they perceived as kidnappers, though the police refused to confirm the actual situation.
Reports from various towns and villages in the state have also revealed that the civilian JTF members have been hunting for the bandits, while in some villages, the Fulani herdsmen are denied access to purchase essential commodities.
REPRISAL BY BANDITS
As a result of this, the bandits are now on the rampage, killing and kidnapping the people of the state, particularly those they perceive as JTF members. From last week to date, more than one hundred persons have been kidnapped by the bandits, including a pregnant woman on labour from Danjibga village in Tsafe Local Government Area, who delivered later in the hands of her abductors.
All efforts to secure her release proved abortive as the bandits continuously refused to pick phone calls from her husband, who was said to be restless and crying since the day his wife was abducted.
STOP PAYING RANSOM TO BANDITS, ARMY WARNS RESIDENTS
Reacting to this unhealthy development, the Acting Director Information, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General J. A Agim, stressed that the situation would soon be under control, calling on the people of the state to always inform the security agents whenever their family members were kidnapped.
Agim maintained that the army was never informed about the kidnapping of anyone, adding that families of the kidnapped people usually dialogue with the abductors on phone without consulting with the security personnel.
He, therefore, called on the people of the state to report to the security agencies and stop paying ransom so as to completely discourage the kidnappers.
YARI”S FORMATION OF CIVILIAN JTF POLITICAL- SEN MARAFA
While the people of the state have been commending the state government for constituting the Civilian JTF, the Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial Zone, Kabiru Garba Marafa, said the action was politically motivated.
Senator Marafa, who addressed journalists in Abuja, maintained that the Civilian JTF members were recruited by Governor Yari in order to use them to victimize his political opponents in the forthcoming general
elections.
According to Marafa, the recruitment should have been done long before now, adding that the Governor had for long been advised to employ the services of civilian JTF as done by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno, but he refused until now when he realized that his political career was being threatened.
LAWMAKER’S CLAIM BASELESS- GOVT
In a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for information, Alhaji Muhammad Danjari Kotorkoshi, said Senator Marafa’s allegations were baseless and ill motivated, adding that the lawmaker lacked foresight, common sense and courage to understand complex security issues.
“We are not surprised at his outburst because we are expecting more from him. The issue is that the good people of the state are very appreciative of the decision of Governor Yari to recruit the civilian JTF members to help bring an end to insecurity challenges in the state,” Said Danjari.
The commissioner further said that the state government was not bothered about Marafa’s outbursts because the governor’s action was a collective decision taken in order to restore peace to the state currently facing serious security challenges.
