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Tag: bandits

  • NAF strikes bandits in Zamfara, destroys 8 camps, kills scores

    The Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday said it had carried out successful air strikes on 8 camps of armed bandits in Zamfara state, killing scores of them in the operations.

    It added that those who escaped with wounds are being pursued by ground troops to the border towns between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

    The spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement supported with a video clip that the operations were carried out in Sububu, Rugu, Doumborou and Kagara forests.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has continued to record successes in its renewed air offensive against armed bandits in Zamfara State and its environs.

    ” The air strikes, which were intensified on 8 April 2019 with the deployment of additional aircraft, are aimed at flushing out the bandits from their hideouts in Sububu, Rugu and Kagara Forests, amongst others, whilst ensuring the protection of the lives and properties of citizens in the Northwest of the Country.

    “On the first day of the intensive operation, the ATF conducted coordinated air raids against multiple identified armed bandits’ hideouts at Doumborou, Sububu, West Malamawa, Baturia Pond and Rugu Forest, where several bandits were neutralized and their camps destroyed.

    ” Yesterday, 9 April 2019, the ATF conducted waves of attacks against several targets. The first wave struck 3 armed bandits locations within Sububu Forest as well as another camp in Kagara Forest.

    ” Targets attacked in the second wave were notable armed bandits’ hideouts at Kamarawa, Kunduma and Tsamare Hill, while the third wave focused on armed bandits hideouts in Doumborou.

    Read Also: NAF destroys bandits’ logistics Base in Zamfara

    “The ATF also provided close air support‪ to surface forces of Sector 2 to enable them move into the attacked areas to mop-up the fleeing survivors and recover their weapons. ‬

    “In all, the ATF degraded 8 camps and neutralized scores of armed bandits.

    ” ‪Reports indicate that, ‬as a result of the air strikes, ‪some of the bandits are fleeing towards the border ‬between Nigeria and Niger Republic‪.

    “Accordingly, the ATF is liaising with relevant authorities to ensure that the bandits are prevented from escaping through the Southern part of Niger Republic.‬

    “The NAF, in consonance with surface forces and other relevant authorities, will sustain its efforts to end the scourge of banditry and other related threats to life and safety in the Northwest of our dear nation. “

  • Insecurity: Police deepen strategy, launch new operation against bandits – IGP

    Mr Muhammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police, has said that the police had taken steps to deepen its strategy of combating crime and criminals across the country.

    He reiterated that the force would not relent in its efforts to redirect attention to renewed approach against criminal attacks by bandits on innocent Nigerians.

    Adamu said, the force will match step by step against every criminal act” we will close every attempt by swiftly taming criminals. Wherever they move to, they will find us tactically and combatant difficult to perpetrate their acts”, he vowed.

    Adamu who on Tuesday night addressed officers and men of the Sokoto command of the force, gave his words of assurance with passion and commitment to ensuring the use of strategic intelligence machinery to combat insecurity especially in parts of northwest also said the police was actively and battle ready to deplete crime rate in the country.

    ” We are strengthening our logistics capacity with adequate support for our personnel”, he said.

    He urged police operatives to be awake to their role in tackling security problems to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens.

    To this end, the IGP disclosed that the force had demonstrated its commitment through the launch of its newly introduced “Operation Puff Addar”, adding ” we have commenced action in Abuja, Katsina and Zamfara. Our next place of launch is Sokoto”, he disclosed.

    According to Adamu who was in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state earlier in the day before visiting Sokoto,” it is duty bound on all police to brace up to the task of doing what is best, taught and needed at curbing crime. Note that the public is watching kinly”, he stressed.

    Read Also: IGP visits Zamfara, charges Policemen to be offensive

    He noted that there were enormous challenges which informed his decision to tour formations and commands to get first-hand information in order to profer solutions in earnest.

    The IGP also assured of welfare of the police, explaining that the problems of underpayments and related challenges especially those associated with TSA, IPIS among others would be tackled speedily.

    ” Efforts are being made as we are working assiduously in synergy with the office of the Accountant General and CBN to ensure every personnel is captured as appropriate”, he stressed.

  • ALGON wants civilian JTF armed to fight bandits in Zamfara

    The Zamfara chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has urged the Nigeria Police Force to permit the Civilian Joint Task (CJTF), to carry rifles to ease the fight against bandits in the north western state.

    Its chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Umar, made the appeal on Wednesday in Guau, during a Stakeholders Security Town Hall Meeting with the acting IGP, Mohammed Adamu.

    He said that members of the CJTF, who were recently recruited by the state government to complement the effort of security agents, were conversant with the terrain of their respective areas and could identify most of the criminals operating around them.

    Represented by the Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Area, Dr Auwal Moriki, the ALGON boss regretted that the military had written to the state government requesting the withdrawal of the JTF.

    “We believe that withdrawing the CJTF is not advisable because we have seen how determined these youths are, in the fight against the bandits. We are confident that having received training from the armed forces, they can do the job.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Buhari cuts Dubai trip short, returns to Abuja

    “If they can be closely supervised by the Police while they handle the weapons, the challenges will certainly be surmounted and we are confident that this can be achieved,” he said.

    Also commenting on the matter, the representative of the CJTF, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed, commended members of the CJTF for their bravery but acknowledged that there were some bad eggs among the security agents.

    “One of the major challenges we realised is that Police prosecutors often drop charges against hardened criminals that had confessed to committing atrocities when they get to the courts.

    “Ultimately, such criminals are set free and they return to threaten those they suspect reported them.

    “We are ever ready to do our best to curb the activities of these terror groups, but we need your support, prayers and the cooperation of the security agents we work with,” he said.

    Also contributing, the representative of the Council of Ulama in the state, Dr Aliyu Jangebe, called on leaders to be just and fair to all citizens, while citizens must pray for the leaders.

    “We may have individually or collectively offended God and we need to seek His forgiveness and help for us to see the end of this problem,” he advised.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting was attended by traditional and community leaders, as well as herders and farmers.

  • Breaking: Seven JTF members dead in clash with bandits

    No fewer than seven parsons were feared dead during a clash involving Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and some bandits in Tsamiyar Jino village in kankara local government area of Katsina state

    Confirming the incident, spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, Superintendent Gambo Isa, told newsmen on Tuesday that 35 persons didn’t die as erroneously stated in many social media posts.

    He further disclosed the Civilian JTF popularly known as Yansakai (volunteers) went into the forest to fight the bandits against the warnings of Police not to do so.

    Read Also: Updated: Fire razes Katsina varsity

    He said the bandits overpowered them because of possession of superior weapons and vast knowledge of the terrain better than the JTF.

    The police chief assured that the newly deployed IGP special squad against banditry and kidnapping in the state will soon catch up with the bandits and smoke them out.

  • Bandits kill 50 civilian JTF members, others in Zamfara

    No fewer than 50 persons, including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF) have been killed in a fresh raid by bandits in Zamfara State.

    Speaker of the State House Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, said yesterday that the  CJTF had confronted the bandits in Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.

    Rikiji who was on a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda emirate decried the worsening security situation in the state.

    “We were told that the members of Civilian JTF had mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest which led to the killing of over 50 persons including members of CJTF,” he said.

    Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as unprofessional, saying “confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.

    “Their duty is to support security personnel to carryout operations not to lead operations; only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits,” he added.

    He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domain to avoid taking laws into their hands.

    Read also: Zamafara: APC insist it will present candidates for 2019 elections

    “This is the directive from governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.

    “We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government Chairman aimed at assisting them.

    “The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he added.

    Responding, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem.

    He said the emirate had embarked on special prayers to seek Allah’s intervention over the security challenges in the state.

    “We have already mobilised our Imams of Jumu’at Mosque and Ulamas to offer special prayers in this regard during Jumu’at prayers,” the emir said.

    The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.

  • Bandits kill 50 civilian JTF, others in Zamfara

    No fewer than 50 persons, including members of Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF) were killed in Zamfara by bandits on Tuesday, Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, stated on Friday.

    Rikiji, who revealed this during a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda emirate, attributed the incidence to CJTF confrontation with bandits in a community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.

    The Speaker, who led the state government delegation on the visit, decried the worsening security situation in the state.

    “We were told that the members of Civilian JTF have mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest which led to the killing of over 50 persons including members of CJTF,” he said.

    Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as unprofessional, saying ”confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.

    “Their duty is to support security personnel to carryout operations not to lead operations; only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits,” he added.

    He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domain to avoid taking laws into their hands.

    “This is the directive from governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.

    “We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government Chairman aimed at assisting them.

    Read Also: Better equipped bandits?

    “The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he added.

    Responding, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem.

    He said the emirate had embarked on special prayers to seek Allah’s intervention over the security challenges in the state.

    “We have already mobilised our Imams of Jumu’at Mosque and Ulamas to offer special prayers in this regard during Jumu’at prayers,” the emir said.

    The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.

    Abdullahi assured of the council’s continued support to the state and federal government in fighting insecurity in the area and the state.

  • Better equipped bandits?

    •That is a bad stain on the Nigerian state that must be cleansed without delay

    AGAIN the Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has cried out about the menace of armed bandits and their capacity to unleash terror on citizens of his state, in what appears like an intractable security problem.

    In a country without reliable data, census and records, it is very difficult to say, as  in the other states with insurgency problems, how many people have been killed since the start of the insurgency in the northern region.  But  the numbers are staggering.

    In his latest outburst that spells exasperation and helplessness, the governor stated, albeit outrageously, that the bandits are better equipped than the Nigerian military. Even though this claim on the face of it may appear a tad too exaggerated, it speaks of the exhaustion and desperation the governor has been displaying since the problem peaked in Zamfara, a state in the North West, curiously away from the troubled North East.

    The governor had earlierr threatened to resign; and he had called for a state of emergency to be declared in the state, to underscore his desperate moves to attract attention to the problems in his state, understandably commendable being the chief security officer of a troubled state.

    Even if his pronouncements are a bit exaggerated, he might not be blamed totally given how helpless he is in the face of consistent killings in his domain. It merely highlights the fact that Nigeria as a nation has to plan better and execute better, for a better security cover in all spheres.

    However, we find it curious that the governor made reference to having negotiated with the bandits three good times; and each time they renege on their promises. He made references to the bandits having and showing the government side their own armory, ”For instance, during the first dialogue, they invited some of our team, Army, DSS, Police and my Chief Security Officer, as well as some traditional rulers representatives and we have seen what they have”.

    It beggars belief that a government and its agencies could have this bone-chilling dialogue and armory ‘inspection’, in a state that has been under siege for so long with the attendant deaths, arson and rapes. Then the question arises, if these armed rouges are known and can be accessed, how come the killing continues? How is it that the country is so lapse in intelligence gathering and even with access to the criminals, they are treated with kid gloves literarily?

    We equally recall a certain $1bn dollars approved amidst debates for the rearmament of the military in the face of continued insurgency. How is it that the military, after the financial approval, have seemingly not fared better? How do non-state rogue actors have more sophisticated weapons than state actors? The proliferation of small arms and weapons in Africa has been a source of worry to the international organizations like the United Nations, how is a country like Nigeria not able to adequately police its borders?

    So, beyond the despair by the governor, we urge the government and its agencies to see the fight against the insurgency in the North as a national emergency. The governor indicated that the bandits benefit from the weather situations as they prefer attacking during the rainy season when they can hide in the forests without being apprehended because of the bad topography then.   Is there no way, knowing this, the government  can come around their strategy?

    The claim that the bandits come in from outside the country, and take up spaces to terrorize the citizens, may appear too simplistic even if true. The truth might be that there are home recruits in the mix. High illiteracy and unemployment levels might just render most youths readily available to recruiters, even if they are coming from outside. Again the Ministry of the Interior, in charge of immigration, must be ready to adequately police the borders like other countries; and make plans to provide permanent identity cards and national data for citizens of Nigeria.

    Making a song and dance of bandits coming into the country through the ECOWAS free trade routes sounds too puerile, given that other countries like the EU have such multilateral agreements without the attendant terror Nigeria has been experiencing. Our governments, at all levels, and their agencies, must realistically wake up to the twenty first century global security challenges.

  • Air force, police, DSS plan joint action against bandits, kidnappers in Northwest

    The Air Force, police and the Department of State Security (DSS) are to work together to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts in the Northwest.

    According to the NAF spokesman , Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the inter-agency collaboration followed the visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed A. Adamu and the Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at NAF headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

    Air Commodore Daramola explained in a statement that besides sharing intelligence on ways to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts, the NAF would also make available air assets in support of the other agencies to secure the affected states.

    The statement reads: “As part of inter-agency cooperation to address security challenges in the country,  especially the issue of kidnapping and armed banditry along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari axis, the NAF has reiterated its commitment to support the police, DSS and other security agencies with real time geospatial and imagery intelligence while making available its air assets for the conduct of tactical air support missions and increasing the frequency of air reconnaissance in the affected areas.

    “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, disclosed this today, while playing host to the Acting IGP and the DSS Director General, at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

    “The IGP and DG DSS on arrival at HQ NAF immediately went into a closed door meeting with the CAS before undertaking a guided tour of facilities at the newly established, state-of- the-art Geospatial Intelligence Data Centre (GIDC) and Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC).

    “The GIDC, which is equipped with high-tech computer hardware and software, was established to enhance the acquisition, analysis,  interpretation and exploitation of imagery and geospatial information to provide actionable intelligence for the Armed Forces and other security   agencies, while the equally well-equipped SAOC is expected to greatly enhance the coordination of air operations in support of internal security operations across the country.

    “While inspecting the facilities, the Acting IGP expressed delight and satisfaction with the cutting-edge technologies and sophisticated computer software at the centres.”

    The acting IGP was quoted as saying: “I felt that as a security agency, we need to synergise with other security outfits. We don’t have the air capability but the NAF has them. With this, we can have a joint operation to deal with this security issue.”

    Idris hailed the CAS for making NAF air assets available for the operation and also availing the NPF and DSS of the capabilities of the GIDC and SAOC.

  • Air Force probes flogging of bandits by personnel

    The Nigerian Air Force(NAF)  has launched an investigation into a video currently in circulation where its personnel were seen flogging bandits in Zamfara State.

    The NAF not only condemned the behaviour of the military personnel,  but confirmed that some of  its personnel were part of the joint operations  going on in Zamfara State to flush out bandits.

    A statement by the spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said a Board of Inquiry had been instituted on the matter, promising that those culpable would not go unpunished.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a video and some pictures circulating on some social media and online platforms showing some military personnel flogging suspected armed bandits at Shinkafi Local Government Area in Zamfara State.

    “The NAF has discovered that some of its personnel were part of the joint team stationed at the Galadi Sub-Sector at the time.

    “The joint team had, sequel to intelligence reports, intercepted a group of suspected armed bandits, including some fighters from across the border, at their Sububu Forest hideout whilst they were on the verge of executing an attack against innocent civilians in Shinkafi. In the process, the team recovered one AK-47 rifle along with 3 loaded magazines and 3 dane guns from the bandits.

    “ In an effort to obtain further information on the criminals’ plans and the location of their armoury, the troops employed unauthorised, crude corporal methods.

    “The NAF wishes to state unequivocally that the troops’ actions of flogging and physically assaulting the disarmed suspects were totally unacceptable and not in consonance with the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) guiding the conduct of the operation.

    “Our personnel have always been directed to respect the rights of innocent civilians as well as captured combatants, no matter the provocation.

    “The public is to please note that the NAF has zero tolerance for such human rights violations and has since initiated appropriate action to address the anomaly.

    “In this regard, a Board of Inquiry (BOI) has been set up by the Headquarters Special Operations Command (HQ SOC) to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident with a view to ensuring that appropriate disciplinary action is taken against all NAF personnel found culpable. The public will be kept informed on the outcome of the investigations.

    “ The NAF, as an organisation, wishes to state that it remains a professional fighting force that will continue to operate within the ambits of all relevant laws and procedures, as well as in line with international best practices, whilst remaining fully accountable to the Nigerian people. “

  • Bandits kidnap expatriate in Zamfara

    A North Korean doctor, Dr. Jen Sunail, who was attached to Tsafe Local Government General Hospital in Zamfara State, has been kidnapped.

    Sunail, a physiotherapist, was kidnaped by a group of suspected armed bandits on Monday.

    Locals in the area said the bandits came into the town at around 9pm on the faithful day and went straight to the hospital’s staff quarters, where the doctor resides.

    The bandits then whisked him away.

    It was gathered that Dr. Sunail was posted to the hospital based on a contract signed between North Korea and Zamfara State government.

    He has been working at the general hospital for over three years.

    Bandits have been constantly terrorising Tsafe, Danjibga, Yan Doto, Yan Waren Daji, Kwarin Ganuwa and Keta for weeks.

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    One Mustafa Mu’azu, a resident of the local government, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to curtail activities of the bandits that are kidnapping, raping even married women, looting and killing in the areas.

    He added that without troops’ intervention, the trend of insecurity in Zamfara State might escalate to uncontrollable state, where it could be difficult to handle.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Muhammad Shehu, when contacted,  confirmed the incident.

    Shehu said the abduction was reported to the DPO attached to Tsafe Local Government Headquarters by the doctor’s colleague, Dr. Li Dong.

    The PPRO, in a statement, said: “The state Commissioner of Police  Celestine Okoye has directed the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID), State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and anti-kidnapping squad team to commence investigation, search and rescue and unveil the circumstances behind the missing of the expatriate doctor.”