US warning re-echoes security concerns
a ransom from his family.
Last month, a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Amadasun Idahosa, was kidnapped along the BeninEkpoma road by gunmen and was released after one week.
It was learnt that in the last two three months over 12 persons had been killed in cultism related fights in the state.
The state government in its bid to check the trend, established a security outfit named Wabaiziga, but despite that, crime persists in the state even as the police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor, said the command was working to reduce it crime to the barest minimum. Kidnapping persists in Lagos Scores of people are kidnapped, robbed or attacked by different bands of criminals in different parts of Lagos.
Though, cases of kidnapping have reduced in Lagos in recent time, the rising cases of cult activities is said to be part of the organized crime, which the police command is struggling to contain.
Intermittent banditry in Katsina
In Katsina, banditry is being recorded intermittently across Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Batsari, Dandume, Sabuwa, Kankara, Faskari, and Dutsinma local government areas.
Though residents admitted the presence of security personnel in most of the areas, bandits still carry out attacks that have led to mass relocation of villagers to places perceived to be relatively safe.
Many people have abandoned their farms for fear of being abducted by bandits.
Last Thursday, bandits ransacked several villages of Kureci, Giye, Gurza, Gurzan Kuka, Makanwaci, Didu, Ukalawa, Tsasr Mangwaro, Sanawa and Unguwar Bera, dislodging the residents and taking away their livestock and other valuables.
Last week in Garwa village of Batsari Local Government Area, one Malam Sadi was killed when bandits attacked Tudun Wada village, and also killed one Abdulhadi Husamatu.
This recent attack sparked protests by the villagers who blocked the highway to draw attention to their plight.
A visit to the areas showed women and children carrying what remained of their belongings and fleeing.
Fatima Abbas from Dogon Ruwa village said, “I fear for my life and have to move. Our villages came under attack and as you can see we are moving out.”
Another woman, Barira Suleiman and her eight children from Kurechi village said, “I’m relocating to Karhi village to squat with a relation. I am lucky to be safe but I don’t know what may happen afterwards”
In Sokoto, residents live in fear of bandits
Sabon Birni is one of the areas often infiltrated by bandits in Sokoto State. The place had in recent times experienced series of attacks which led to the destruction of lives and property. In one of the attacks at Gangara village, over 22 people were killed.
According to the report released by the State Emergency Management Agency, 105 persons including women and children lost their lives within two months in the area.
The report added that 12,753 were displaced from the 10 villages ravaged by the marauders.
The Director General of the agency, Alhaji Nasiru Aliyu, noted that 3,826 of the victims were females while 6,377 were children.
Aliyu added that 2,551 males were among the displaced persons taking refuge in several camps across the area.
Sabon Birni is neighbouring Isa Local Government Area which had also been attacked several times. It would be recalled that about 10 people were killed in several villages in the area last month.
The villages include Bafarawa, Arune, Suruddudu, Sabon Gari Lugi, Tsillawa, Gwalama and Dan Adama.
The attackers who were said to be retaliating the military onslaught on them took away livestock and looted every available shop in the villages, before displacing over 5,000 persons.
Other local government areas that had come under attack include
Goronyo, Wurno and Rabah where dozens were killed and several livestock were seized.
It was generally believed that most of the bandits operating in the eastern part of Sokoto State, migrated from neighbouring Zamafara State and Niger Republic.
Isa Local Government Area has border with Shinkafi in Zamfara State while Rabah has border with Bakura, another local government area in Zamfara State.
However, there are many legitimate and illegitimate routes to Niger Republic from in that axis.
A Sokoto based security expert, Squasron Leader Aminu Bala Sokoto (rtd), observed that the attackers were Fulanis who were not happy with the peace deal in Zamfara State and as such migrated to Sokoto to continue with their operations.
“When Zamfara state government called for dialogue, they agreed and surrendered their weapons, but there were renegades among them who are now operating in Sokoto and deserve not to be given carrot treatment at all,” he said.
Moreover, there were places in the northern part of the state which because of their proximity to Niger Republic also experienced attacks.
These places were Gudu and
Tangaza local government areas where many residents, including the district head of Balle, the headquarters of Gudu Local Government Area were killed.
Daily Trust on Sunday however gathered that the attacks have drastically reduced because of the sustained military operations in the area.
The sole administrator of one of the local government areas who pleaded anonymity said the bandits were reduced to a mere gang of kidnappers who storm remote areas, pick one or two persons and demand ransom before releasing them.
Farmers/herders conflicts being checked in Benue
In Benue State, farmer/ herders conflicts in over 12 local government areas had caused the displacement of thousands of rural dwellers who sought shelter in various Internally Displaced Peoples’ (IDP) camps.
However, the situation has now reduced in some of the LGAs while there are still relatively low attacks on communities in fewer areas such as Guma, Logo and Gwer West.
The state currently battles with kidnappers, militia warlords, cultists and armed robbers amidst increase in communal clashes on many fronts across the senatorial districts.
Despite that the banditry persists under different shades in flash points across the state, security forces have not relented.
Kidnappers continue to operate in places such as Makurdi, Ado, Okpokwu and Sankera axis.
Furthermore, the consistent Tiv/Jukun crisis in Taraba State with its usual spill-over to border villages in Benue had left nothing but bitter taste for the inhabitants of Ukum, Kastina-Ala and Logo, all three local government areas which make up Sankera where the dreaded wanted militia kingpins including Terwase Agwaza (Gana) held sway.
The Benue State Security Council has approved the recruitment of 2,300 personnel of community policing and 460 community volunteer guards also known as vigilante, to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies.
Kidnapping, militia attacks worry Taraba
Kidnapping and attacks by militia groups have become major security challenges in Taraba State.
Findings revealed that activities of kidnappers in some local government areas of the state have forced many wealthy individuals to relocate from their residences and it has prevented many farmers from going to their farms.
Areas facing constant threats from kidnappers include Jalingo, Gassol, Lau, Ardo, Kola, Bali, Gashaka, Donga and Ibbi local government areas.
Daily Trust on Sunday findings revealed that in the last few weeks, over 25 persons were abducted in Jalingo, Bali, Gassol, Karim-Lamido and Lau local government areas.
Those abducted include a former senator, Zik Sunday, and the imam of the Taraba State Police Command, among others.
Millions of naira was paid as ransom for the release of those abducted.