Bandits renew attacks in North-West despite governors’ amnesty

GODWIN ISENYO, MAIHARAJI ALTINE, OLAIDE OYELUDE, and GBENGA ODOGUN examine renewed attacks by bandits in the North-West despite state governors’ amnesty to the brigands

renewed attacks by bandits in the North-West have in recent times forced state governors in the region to accuse opposition parties of sponsoring insecurity against their administrations.

The resurgence in killings came on the heels of official pardon by the state governments.

Sadly, banditry has crippled the socio-economic activities of the north-western region. Currently, the states that are worst hit by the menace are, Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara.

Last year, the north-western states achieved relative peace, after negotiations between state government and bandits culminated in amnesty by the governors.

However, the peace became short-lived as the amnesty appeared to have failed to achieve the intended purpose.

While the Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai used force by fighting the bandits, his counterparts in Katsina and Zamfara states, Bello Masari and Bello Matawalle, used dialogue.

The three governors succeeded in their different approaches as it brought about relative peace initially. But the sudden resurgence of banditry across the states is an indication that the peace-accord, which included granting of amnesty, may have collapsed as the bandits returned to their criminal activities in full force.

In Kaduna, the bandits are more daring than ever before, as they operate almost on all the major roads in the state, sometimes in a broad daylight. No day passes away without an incident of banditry in the state.

The most dangerous spots in Kaduna State are Kaduna-Abuja road; Birnin Gwari road; and Kaduna-Kachia- Keffi road, among others. People traveling along these roads always seek prayers from their loved ones before embarking on a journey because of the fear of being killed or kidnapped.

In early January, the Emir of Potiskum in Yobe State, Alhaji Umar Bubaram, was attacked by bandits suspected to be kidnappers at the Fandatio Village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Three of the monarch aides, including a police orderly, were killed. The emir might not be the target. A group, Ansar militia, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Also, a mother of two and wife of a Kaduna-based medical doctor, Dr Philip Ataga, and her two children were kidnapped in their home at Juji village in the Chikun LGA of Kaduna. The woman’s lifeless body was later found, but the bandits insisted on collecting a ransom of N20m for the release of the two children.

Similarly, four seminarians from the Good Shepherds Major Seminary in Kakau, also in the Chikun LGA were kidnapped when their school was invaded by heavily-armed men in military uniforms. Three weeks later, one of the seminarians was found dead while three others were released.

In Katsina, the February 14 attack by bandits on Tsauwa and Dankar has instilled fears on residents of the state. This is partly due to the extent of destruction carried out especially at Tsauwa and partly because banditry and similar crimes seem to have returned to the state in recent times. Unfortnately, this came after few months of reprieve when Governor Masari announced a peace pact with repentant bandits.

A visit to Tsauwa village painted the image of a war-torn community as its larger part was razed. Indeed, charred remains of victims, animals, and foodstuff littered houses in the village as of Saturday.

Tsauwa residents also revealed that following Friday’s attack, some residents had relocated to their relatives in various parts of the state.

A father, Mallam Umaru Balarabe, who lost a two-year-old girl at Tsauwa during the attack, said some of his neighbours had relocated out of the village. The remains of his little girl were still packed in a body bag on Saturday, awaiting burial.

Balarabe, who spoke through an interpreter in Hausa, said, “What else would I be doing here. I am only waiting for the burial of my girl. Once, it is done, I am leaving the village. The bandits came, destroying everything and only God saved me. Nobody can tell when they will come again.”

Another Tsauwa resident, Abdu Rasheed, said he would relocate after the burial of Mallam Isah Barau, a 50-year-old man who was also killed during the attack.

The district head of Batsari, who is also called Sarki Ruma, Alhaji Tukur Muaazu, described the incident as horrible.

“I have never seen this type of destruction in my life. The bandits arrived here (Tsauwa) at about 7pm on Friday when residents were about observing Magrib. Some others were also preparing to sleep. They laid siege to the village, killed and destroyed everything they sighted,” he said

“I appeal to Governor Aminu Masari to come to the aid of the victims. I will also plead that security in the community should be strengthened,” he added.

Although Masari has promised to prevent a reccurrence, there are still fears the bandits may strike in the two communities which are less than a two-hour drive from the state capital.

In 2017, he offered amnesty for cattle rustlers or kidnappers who repented and submitted their weapons. He also built schools for some of the herders who live in the forest and announced cattle routes to prevent friction between herders and farmers in the state.

In January 2017, repentant cattle rustlers and kidnappers voluntarily surrendered no fewer than 47 AK47 rifles to government. In the same vein, 267 Dane guns being used by local vigilantes to ward off rustlers were surrendered to the government at a ceremony in Kankara town.

The state government, in return, announced a general amnesty for any cattle rustler who would voluntarily relinquish his weapon to the government.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Muhammed Inuwa, said the government had earlier recovered 57 AK47 rifles from the cattle rustlers.

The SSG also revealed that 24,667 animals recovered from the rustlers had been returned to their various owners while 5,660 animals were yet to be claimed by their owners.

In Zamfara State, there were celebrations all over the towns and villages when Matawalle signed a peace accord and granted amnesty to the bandits who in return promised to stop banditry and embrace peace process.