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Tag: Bandit

FCT Security: Two policemen injured, over 50 Residents kidnapped as Bandits attack Bwari Community
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Again, on Wednesday morning, bandits attacked Bwari and some parts of Zuma communities in the Federal Capital Territory, where two Policemen were injured and an undisclosed number of residents were kidnapped.
Daybreak gathered from concerned residents that two police officers were allegedly injured during a face off between the bandits and the police to secure the life and properties of people of the area.
It was learned that the injured officers were taken to hospital, and unidentified numbers of residents kidnapped by the bloodthirsty bandits.
Sources said that this is the fifth in the series of attacks since the Bandits began Strickling Garam Niger State, a boundary community with Bwari FCT.
Meanwhile, more than fifty-five victims have been kidnapped, while more than three people were killed in an attack. The fourth person who died was the wife of the Redeemed Christian church of God Pastor that was killed in the presence of his family.
It was reported that the Pastor’s wife was recovering when the Bandits called her line to place ransomed on her two kidnapped children who are presently in the bandits camp, having heard the demand report gathered revealed that the woman who could not bear the grief of the loss of her husband and agony of her two tender children who are within the age bracket of seven and nine years slummed, allegedly entered into coma and later gave up the ghost on Tuesday.
Daybreak also gathered that the Bandits spread their attack to Garam community on Monday Night/Tuesday Morning with sporadic Gun shorts that jostled residents to panic.
They were reported to abducted three members of one family unhindered by any security presence.
Furthermore, a staff of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company was unlucky as bandits broke into his house, forcefully kidnapped him, his wife and nephew and escaped with them on motorcycles into the bush.
It will be recalled that over fifty people have been reportedly kidnapped within the period of two weeks starting from 23 December 2023, a penultimate week to the New year in Garam, Kuduru, Azu.
However, the FCT Police command has debunked earlier reports of kidnappings in its territory, claiming that Kuduru where the second incidence of kidnapping happened falls under Niger state, and claiming that the Nation’s capital is more secured.
January 4, 2024
Gunmen Kill Nine, Abduct Three, Injure Others In Kaduna
At least nine people have been reportedly killed by bandits during an attack at Ungwan Dakwa village, near Dogon Dawa ward in Birnin Gwari Local government area of Kaduna State.
Although the police authorities are yet to comment on the incident, the House of Assembly member-elect for Birnin Gwari State Constituency, Honourable Yahaya Birnin Gwari, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Sunday.
In a telephone conversation, Gwari said the bandits stormed his community at about 2 pm on Saturday and immediately opened fire on the innocent residents who were going about their daily duties.
He said that some villagers sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack and were rushed to hospitals at neighbouring Funtua in Katsina State for treatment, while most of the villagers fled from their homes due to fear of a fresh attack by the bandits.
Kaduna is one of the North-Western states that is worst hit by bandits who have continued to wreak havoc in the region.
Heavily armed gangs known locally as bandits frequently carry out mass abductions for ransom in northwest and central Nigeria, holding their captives in camps hidden in vast forest that stretch across the region.
Intercommunal attacks and abductions for ransom have been on the rise again after a lull during elections in February and March for the presidency and governorship posts.
Gunmen killed 33 people in an attack on a farming village in Kaduna last month, part of inter-communal violence between ethnic Fulani herders and pastoral farmers.
Earlier this month, ten school children were also kidnapped in central Kaduna, though eight later managed to escape two weeks after their abduction.
May 21, 2023
Military neutralizes 4 bandit-terrorists in Kaduna
Troops of 1 Division, Nigerian Army and Air Component Operation Whirl Punch have neutralised four bandits and captured arms and ammunition in an operation that lasted for about 48 hours in Kaduna State.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant-Colonel Musa Yahaya disclosed this in a statement issued in Kaduna.
“The operation is in continuation of the onslaught against banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities in the North West. Troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and Air Component Operation Whirl Punch dealt massive blow on criminal elements.
“In an operation that lasted for about 48 hours, troops cleared Manini-Kuriga, Farin Ruwa, Kwanan Yashi, Makera, Dogon Dawa-Maidaro road, Kidanda-Yadi Forest and Sabon Birnin all in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area,” Yahaya stated.
He disclosed that during the encounter, the troops engaged the criminals with heavy and superior firepower, capturing one AK 47 rifle, 20 rounds of 7.62mm special, six motorcycles and neutralised four bandits, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“The troops, in their efforts to permanently displace the bandits and render the general area inhabitable for all criminals, went ahead to destroy all the bandits’ enclaves, properties and the captured motorcycles.
“The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, who is also the commander, Operation Whirl Punch, Major-General Taoreed Lagbaja, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the troops during the operation.
“Lagbaja also appealed to the people of the state to report persons with gunshot wounds seeking medical attention,” he said.
February 11, 2023
ln Zamfara, Bandit-terrorists kidnap retired army officer, 2 children
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped a retired colonel, Rabi’u Yandoto, and his two children on the Gusau-Tsafe Road in Zamfara State.
An indigene of the area, Mohammed Hassan, said Yandoto was going to his hometown together with his two children Sunday night when he was ambushed by bandits and taken to the forest.
Hassan said, “The bandits ambushed the retired colonel on Sunday night and kidnapped him along with his two children and two other victims”.
“We heard gunshots and started running into the bush for fear of the bandits but later realised that Colonel Yandoto was their target,” Hassan added.
Yandoto is a close political rival to Senator Kabiru Marafa and has been campaigning against Marafa’s ambition of winning election in 2023.
He is the leader of the Zamfara All Progressive Congress political group called ‘Wake da Shinkafa’ with the sole aim of ensuring that Kabiru Marafa does not win the senatorial seat come 2023.
Efforts made to speak to the spokesperson for the state police command, SP Mohammed Shehu, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached on phone as of the time of filing this report.
January 2, 2023
In Kaduna, Security Forces Neutralize 4 Bandit-terrorists
Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have neutralised four bandits in their identified hideouts around Tsohon Gayan, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
He said the troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one magazine with 22 rounds of ammunition and one motorcycle.
November 28, 2022
Zamfara Govt Suspends Emir For Giving ’Notorious Bandit Leader’ Chieftaincy Title
The Zamfara State Government has suspended the Emir of Birnin ‘Yandoto of Tsafe Local Government Area, Aliyu Marafa, for conferring a chieftaincy title to a “notorious bandit leader”.
Secretary to the State Government, Kabiru Sardauna, announced the suspension in a statement on Sunday.
Aleru was turbaned as Sarkin Fulani (Chief of Fulani) of Yandoto Emirate by the emir.
News of the turbaning ceremony along with photos went viral, generating outcry and outrage.
Apart from suspending the emir, Governor Bello Matawalle approved the appointment of a Committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the action of the Emir.
The committee has Yahaya Goro as chairman and Musa Garba as secretary. Members are Yahay Kanoma, Muhammed Magaji, Lawal Zannah, Isa Moriki.
“In the meantime, Alh. Mahe Garba Marafa, who is the District Head of ‘Yandoto is hereby assigned to take charge of the affairs of the Emirate,” the statement said.
Channels Television had earlier reported how several bandit group leaders and lieutenants arrived at the venue of the occasion on several motorbikes to celebrate with Aleru during his turbaning.
A source confirmed that the decision to make the bandits’ leader a chief was aimed at finding lasting peace in Tsafe and the Yandoton Daji Emirates, and other areas that were regularly attacked by Aleru-led gangs.
“It was aimed at providing lasting peace in the emirate, the emir told us that there is a peace accord between the emirate and the bandit group,” the source said.
Similarly, an official from the palace who pleaded anonymity said that the title of Sarkin Fulani was conferred on Alero considering his present status as a ‘peace-maker’ within the emirate.
“The chieftaincy title was given to him in appreciation of the peace reconciliation,” he said.
July 18, 2022
El-Rufai Applauds Security Forces For Repelling Bandit Attack On Kaduna Airport
Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Saturday commended security forces for repelling a bandit attack on the Kaduna airport.
Earlier, there were reported attack, which was confirmed by the airport’s manager, Mrs Amina Salam.
“Security forces have reported that an attack by armed bandits was repelled in the vicinity of the Kaduna International Airport,” a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said.
“Troops stationed within and around the the airport responded and repelled the attackers.
“However, the bandits unfortunately shot and killed a staff member stationed at the perimeter fence who raised alarm on sighting them.
“Airport operations resumed with scheduled flights departing after the incident.
“Security forces are conducting operations in the airport general area. Further updates will be communicated to the public.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i commended the security forces for their prompt response to the attack, and for repelling the attackers. He expressed sadness at the report of the casualty, and sent condolences to the family of the victim, while offering prayers for the repose of his soul.”
March 27, 2022
Bandit-terrorists kidnap mother, baby, 2 others in Zaria
By Joyce Babayeju
A mother, her baby and two other peasants were kidnapped by terrorists in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Journalists were told that “in the early hours of Friday, gunmen attacked the Tudun Mun tsira village of Zangon Shanu, Samaru in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State”
“They kidnapped a nursing mother and her baby. An elderly man, Mallam Abubakar Garba Aliyu and his son, Salim Abubakar, were also taken away.”
” Abubakar and his family relocated to the area recently. Today he was kidnapped,” a local said.
“The gunmen who rode motorbikes were many. They took over the area with their guns from the backside of the University .”
“Initially, we thought they were from kasuwar Da’a axis in Giwa Local Government Area which is close to us.
“They kidnapped the nursing mother and her baby at Tudun Mun Tsira village before proceeding to Hayin Liman where they kidnapped Alhaji Abubakar and his son.”
Journalists were still awaiting a reaction from the authorities on the sad development.
February 12, 2022
Air Force Kill Two Notorious Bandit Leaders, Several Others In Zamfara
The Nigerian Air Force has killed two notorious bandit leaders, Alhaji Auta, and Kachalla Ruga following an air raid of a forest in Zamfara State.
Sources revealed that the notorious bandit leaders were killed after a NAF aircraft, under Operation Hadarin Daji, acted on credible intelligence, and bombarded their enclaves at Gusami Forest and Tsamre Village in Birnin Magaji local government area of the state last Friday night.
According to the sources, multiple airstrikes by the NAF jet, which were carried out in the early hours of Saturday have also led to the death of several other bandits.
Another source told Channels TV that some bandits were also killed by the military jet when they went to retrieve the body of the bandits’ leader Alhaji Auta from the scene of bombardment.
Residents believe that if this level of action is sustained and other local political actors key into working for peace, Zamfara State and the entire northwest region will be restored to the “peaceful region” it once used to be.
January 2, 2022
Insecurity: Schools Shut Down In Niger Over Planned Banditry Attacks
The Chairman, Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State, Danjuma Suleiman Nalango, has ordered the closure of all public and private primary, secondary and tertiary schools in the local government area over a planned banditry attack on schools to abduct school children in Zungeru and neighbouring communities.
The Council Chairman told our correspondent via telephone that there was an intelligence report by the security agencies that armed bandits in their numbers were planning to strike in the day at Niger State Polytechnic and Government Girls Day Secondary School, both located in the outskirt of Zungeru town.
He said the measure was to avoid a repeat of what happened in Tegina where Islamiyyh pupils were abducted.
“The decision to close the schools was as a result of banditry activities in the local government.
“The security agencies brought to my notice and even that of the governor that they have intercepted communication on a plan to abduct school children in my local government.
“And the communication they intercepted particularly pointed to Zungeru as the area of the planned attack.
“Although yesterday (Saturday), I was told that the kingpin had been arrested. The communication was highly classified. But they intercepted that communication and even the time that they were going to strike.
“So, it was duty-bound for us as representative of the people, we sat down myself in my capacity as the council chairman, the security agencies and we resolved that proactive measure should be taken before any damage is done.
“We wouldn’t want what happened in Tegina to repeat itself. So, we closed down even private schools,” the council chairman said.
He, however, noted that: “We know the inconveniences considering the importance of education, especially now that schools were about to write their promotion examinations. But having analysed that particular threat, we believed it was better for us to close the schools temporarily to allow security operatives to continue to conduct their operations because we don’t know when they will strike because they even said they will strike in the afternoon, about 300 of them will strike precisely at 4pm.
“For bandits to tell you that they will strike in broad daylight, that tells you the magnitude and the number at which they will enter Zungeru and overwhelm everybody. So, we are trying to avoid what happened in Tegina.”
Nalango said Zungeru in particular had been threatened by bandits in recent times.
One of the incidents was the abduction of the Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Transport.
While pointing out that “no school is safe in Zungeru, they can enter anywhere,” he said the schools would be reopened if the security situation in the area improves, and appeal to parents and school proprietors for understanding.
December 19, 2021