Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Bandit

Senator Wamakko Mourns Victims Of Bandit Attack In Sokoto
By Muhammad Goronyo,Sokoto
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has expressed sadness over the recent gruesome attack on innocent travellers in Sokoto state.
The Senator, in a statement by his spokesperson, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal expressed distress over the death of the hapless citizens who were undertaking a legitimate journey to another part of the country.
He extended his deep condolences to the families of the victims while assuring that security agencies will continue to do everything possible to end the operations of the despicable people.
Wamakko called on the people to continue to provide their maximum support and cooperation towards the effort of this administration.
December 9, 2021
Court Proscribes Bandit Groups, Declares them “Terrorists”
A federal high court in Abuja has declared the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups as acts of terrorism.
Taiwo Taiwo, presiding judge, gave the order on an ex parte motion filed by the federal government.
Mohammed Abubakar, director of public prosecution (DPP) at the federal ministry of justice, who filed the motion ex-parte, said President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for his action, of which objective is the proscription of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other terrorist groups in the country.
In its supporting affidavits, the federal government said security reports have confirmed that the bandit groups were responsible for the killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings and related acts of criminality in the north-east, north-central and other parts of the country.
It alleged that the group is responsible for the growing cases of “banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest and Northcentral states in Nigeria are being carried out by Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other groups associated with or engaged in the same or similar activities as Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups in Nigeria.”
“The activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other similar groups constitute acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety and is a threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria,” the government added.
Delivering ruling on Thursday, the court specifically declared the activities of the “Yan Bindiga group” and the “Yan Ta’adda group” and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the north-west and the north-central as “acts of terrorism and illegality”.
The court proscribed the activities of the group as well as other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called”.
The judge also made an order restraining “any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga group and the Yan Ta’adda group under any other name or platform however called or described”.
The court asked the federal government to publish the proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies.
November 26, 2021
9 Slaughtered as Rival Bandit Gangs Clash in Kaduna
At least nine bandits have been killed during a gunfight between rival groups in Kaduna State.
This is according to credible human intelligence network reports corroborated by security agencies, the state government said on Friday.
According to the reports, the clash occurred on Wednesday in Giwa Local Government Area of the state.
A notorious bandit popularly known as Godon Mota was said to have stormed Garke village with members of his gang and clashed with a rival bandit group, leading to the killing of nine persons.
While the cause of the face-off has yet to be ascertained, sources said it revolves around a disagreement over sharing of accumulated ransoms.
One of the groups was reported to have felt cheated by the other – a situation that led to the clash and the killings.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a normal practice for bandits to extort money from innocent residents in Kaduna and other states in the North West, as well as Niger in the north-central region.
In the last one year, bandits have attacked many communities in the region, with a lot of people killed and hundreds abducted.
During the period, several schools have come under attack in Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, and Kebbi where bandits abducted over 1,000 students.
A large number of the victims have since returned after their families paid ransom to the gunmen, but some are still in captivity.
A few of the students lost their lives during rescue operations by security forces.
As the bandits continue to attack communities in Kaduna, the state government says it will no longer consider the option of negotiation with the criminals.
“We have a feeling that the renewed attacks in Kaduna are not unconnected to the position that we have taken as a government that we will not negotiate with criminals,” Governor Nasir El-Rufai said during an interview with Channels Television in April.
According to the security report of the state for the first quarter, a total of 323 people were killed by bandits in Kaduna between January and March.
Of the 323 people killed during the period, 292 were males and 20 were females, while the criminals kidnapped 949 people.
August 20, 2021
Protesting Youths Shut Katsina Highway over Bandit Attacks
Some angry youths in Yantumaki, Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, early Monday morning barricaded Katsina/Funtua highway.
The youths engaged in the renewed protest after bandits attacked Amarawa village on Monday.
During the Monday attack, two persons were said to be killed.
It was also learnt that six persons died from other attacks over the weekend in Matazu and Musawa councils.
The bandits were also said to have injured several people, razed houses and rustled domestic animals during the attacks.
Eyewitnesses said the youths barricaded the highway as early as 6 a.m with unused tyres and debris, the development which disrupted traffic flow on the highway for hours.
It was learnt that the barricade made some travellers going to Funtua, Kaduna, Abuja, Sokoto and Gusau turn back and wait at Dutsin-ma until security operatives later cleared the highway.
The spokesman for the Katsina police command, Gambo Isah, said security operatives were on top of the situation.
He said, “We woke up this morning with a report of protest by some youths at Yantumaki area because of bandit attack at Amarawa village where two villagers were killed by the hoodlums.
“The command in collaboration with military and other security agencies are on top of the situation as personnel and equipment are additionally deployed to deal with the recalcitrant bandits hibernating in the area.
“The Command is calling for calm and urges members of the communities around the area to join hands with security agencies in the ongoing onslaught against the hoodlums.”
August 16, 2021
BREAKING: Troops Foil Attack On Faith Academy Kaduna
Soldiers in the early hours of Monday thwarted an attack on Faith Academy, a secondary school owned by Living Faith Church Worldwide, founded by Bishop David Oyedpo.
The school is not far from a boarding school where many students were abducted in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
Daybreak gathered that gunmen had launched coordinated attacks on both Bethel secondary school and Faith Academy in the early hours of Monday.
While they abducted students at Bethel School, the attack on Faith Academy was foiled.
A security agent confirmed to our correspondent that the gunmen broke into the premises of Faith Academy through the back fence around 1am but were repelled by soldiers, with assistance from the school security team.
A parent, whose son attends the school, told our correspondent that the school management had last week instructed all students to go home, except SS3 students who were preparing for final year exams.
She said adequate provision has been made to move the SS3 students to Barnawa in Kaduna south local government area where they are expected to continue with their studies.
She commended security agents for their timely intervention, saying her son and others who were in the hostel during the attack are safe and have been evacuated from the school premises.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command through the Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said he could not confirm it but security agents were busy thwarting attacks by bandits throughout the night.
July 5, 2021
66 Killed In Bandits Massacre On 8 Villages in Kebbi
Police in Kebbi State said 66 people were killed by bandits in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, said the massacre took place on Thursday in eight villages of the council.
According to him, though the police were still counting the number of the dead, but the state police command had already dispatched a detachment of the officers and men of the police force to the area.
He said, “The killing took place in Koro, kimpi, Gaya, Dimi, Zutu, Rafin Gora and Iguenge villages, all in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State.”
Reports had it that majority of the people of the affected villages have escaped to the nearby town of Riba for safety.
In April, bandits killed nine policemen among whom was the Police DPO of Danko/Wasagu.
June 5, 2021
Police killed Bandit in Kaduna, recovers his Ak-49
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Apparently in line with the shot at sight order, Kaduna police command said it has killed a Marauding bandit with AK-49.
The command made the revelation on Thursday night in kaduna in a release signed by the command spokesman ASP Muhammed Jalige.
Police stated that the bandit was killed during a gun duel and his AK-49 assault weapon with two (2) rounds of 7.2mm live ammunition was recovered.
The command also stated that some of the bandits fled into the forest with varying degrees of bullets wounds, alerting the nearest communities to report anyone person found with bullet injuries. “On 11th March 2021, at about 1230hrs the Operatives of Kaduna Police Command, while on routine patrol along Kaya Road Patika District, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, intercepted some groups of armed bandits on a heinous mission”, it stated.
Police stated that the bandits were engaged in a fierce gun battle and successfully repelled them, adding that “In the process of the said duel one bandit was neutralized and his AK-49 assault weapon with two (2) rounds of 7.2mm live ammunition recovered.
“The doggedness, uncommon courage and tactical operational strategy adopted by the Operatives made the bandits to flee into the forest with varying degrees of bullets wounds. “However the corpse of the neutralized bandit has been deposited at ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika while manhunt for the fleeing bandits is being intensified.
“The Command is calling on members of the Communities within the said axis to be watchful and report any suspicious person(s) with injuries to the nearest Police formation”, it stated.
March 12, 2021
Nothing Wrong In Negotiating With Bandits – FG
The federal government has maintained that there is nothing wrong in dialoguing with bandits.
Last Wednesday, gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the Government Science College (GSC) Kagara, Rafi LGA of Niger state, and kidnapped several students, members of staff, and some members of their families.
Abubakar Bello, governor of Niger, had noted that his government is doing everything to rescue the victims, including facilitating negotiations with the bandits.
While speaking during a radio programme monitored by NAN on Sunday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, responded to Nigerians who had spoken against the strategy of dialoguing with criminals.
Lai stated that nothing is wrong in dialoguing with bandits, as long as the ultimate objective is to make peace.
“After war, people still sit to dialogue. So if some people have taken it upon themselves to visit these people so that they can embrace peace, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that,” the minister explained.
Speaking further, he noted that the federal government will not pay any ransom to secure the release of abductees of GSC Kagara.
He also denied that ransom was paid to secure the release of over 300 children abducted in Kankara, Katsina state.
On the herders-farmers crisis in parts of the country, Lai said the government is taking steps to address it.
He said the steps include plans for intensive cattle-rearing to ensure that cattle rearing and crop farming don’t conflict.
February 22, 2021
Troops Rescue Three Abducted Victims, Kill Bandit, Several Insurgents
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued three persons kidnapped by bandits in Nasarawa State.
The Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, John Enenche Major General, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
He explained that the rescue operation was conducted on Thursday at Mararaba Udege general area in Nasarawa Local Government Area.
Enenche noted that the soldiers killed one bandit in the ensuing firefight while the kidnapped victims were subsequently reunited with their respective families.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until all enemies of the country are neutralised and normalcy is restored to all troubled zones,” he said.
Several Terrorists Killed
Elsewhere, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State.
The military spokesman noted that the troops took out the terrorists’ hideouts in Alagarno, including a compound housing some high-value Boko Haram leaders.
“The compound, concealed under thick vegetation and located 2.3Km North East of KAFA, was being used by the terrorists to coordinate their nefarious activities.
“The destruction of the locations was achieved through multiple air strikes executed on 6 January 2021 as the ATF dispatched appropriate force packages of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and attack helicopters to engage the target areas in day and night raids,” he stated.
Enenche noted that the insurgents were spotted under the dense vegetation of the locations and the NAF attack aircraft took turns to engage the targets, killing several of them in the process.
January 8, 2021
Seven Killed In Niger State On New Year’s Eve
Seven farmers have been killed in Baban Rami in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state by bandits.
The Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane confirmed on Saturday that the incident occurred on New Year’s Eve.
He said the bandits had laid ambush on the farmers who had gone to their farms to harvest their produce.
According to him, the bandits had earlier demanded ransom from the farmers before they could harvest their produce.
But the farmers refused to give in to their threats and decided to seek for the protection of some vigilante members.
Matane explained that after the harvest, one of the drivers, however, decided to move ahead with some farmers, and in the process were attacked by the bandits who killed seven of them.
Asked why the information was just coming to public domain, the Niger state SSG said government had wanted to be sure of the numbers before making any pronouncement.
“We were not sure of the number of the persons killed. We wanted to be sure. So, we just got the accurate figure,” he said.
It is the first time that bandits would launch attacks on Baban Rami.
Matane said the state government would set up a coordinated operation in Mashegu to dislodge the bandits.
He said the state government condemned the attack and other attacks recently carried out in the state.
At least over fifty people have been killed by bandits in Niger State since renewed banditry attacks in January, 2020.
The latest attack comes barely one week after the district head of Madaka in Rafi Local Government Area of the state, Ya’u Idris was killed by gunmen days after he was abducted from his home by the same people.
At the moment, many farmers are not able to go to their farms to harvest their produce due to insecurity.
January 2, 2021