The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bandits

  • 12 feared killed, nine injured as bandits attack Birnin Gwari

    Scores of people have been feared killed as armed bandits attacked Layin Maigwari village along funtua road in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state,

    The Nation gathered the attacks in two villages in the local government area left not fewer than 12 persons killed.

    A source in Dogo Dawa, Alhaji Ahmed Rufai, told to our correspondent the first attack happened on Monday March 11, when the armed bandits ambushed some people traveling from Zamfara to Niger state, and opened fire on them.

    Rufai said, two persons were killed, while nine others were injured in the attack.

    According to him, another set of the bandits numbering about 80 also stormed Hayin Gada village in Tuesday night and started shooting sporadically, leaving 10 persons dead.

    According to him: “The first attack was on Monday, the gunmen stormed the road and attacked travellers, traveling from Zamfara to Niger state, and opened fire on them. They killed two people and left about nine travellers injured.

    “Also on Tuesday, March 12, at Hayin Gada village along Dogon Dawa road, the gunmen stormed the village and started shooting sporadically. In that attack, they killed 10 people.

    “As I speak with you residents of the village have fled from the village to a neighboring community for fear of further attack, because the attackers were so many, they were up to 80,” he said.

    But Kaduna State Police Command could not confirm the incident as at the time of filing this report.

    The Command’s spokesman, DSP Yakubu Sabo said he was on board a helicopter and promised to get back to our reporter.

  • Bandits kidnap 3 in Zamfara

    Bandits have kidnapped three persons after an attack on Fegin Mahe a village near Maru local government of Zamfara state.

    A resident of the village, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent when contacted on phone, said the attack took place around 1 am on Friday.

    He said the bandits were in hundreds shooting sporadically in the air but did not kill anyone.

    He further thanked the military on surveillance in the area for their quick response, explaining the bandits ran away on spotting military vehicles.

    He however said they escaped with their three victims.

  • 59 bandits killed as villagers, armed men clash in Zamfara

    Over 180 suspected bandits, on Tuesday, stormed Dan Jibga town in Tsafe Local Government Area and killed seven residents.

    Fifty-nine members of the bandits were killed by the residents.

    The clash reportedly lasted four hours.

    The villagers were said to be preparing to repel another attack by the bandits yesterday.

    Three vehicles conveying military personnel arrived the scene yesterday.

    Acting Force Information Officer, Major Clement K. Abiade, said he was aware of the incident and that the military was gathering information on the clash.

    He promised to address reporters after collating sufficient information on the incident from force headquarters.

    A villager, who identified himself as Chairman Malaha, said he sustained gunshot wounds from the bandits.

    He said the residents formed a resistance group to repel the bandits.

    Read also: My daughters are my biggest supporters – Mikel

    It was learnt that over 100 villagers from the same area were abducted while an unspecified others were killed.

    Danjibga is a village with flourishing businesses and affluent people.

    Its market day enjoys good patronage more than many others in the area.

    Recently, 15 women were abducted during a marriage ceremony when the bandits disguised as women attending the ceremony.

  • 66 killed as bandits, villagers clash in Zamfara

    No fewer than 66 persons were killed on Tuesday during a clash between armed bandits and residents of Dan Jigba town in Zamfara state.

    Our correspondent gathered that about seven villagers were killed when bandits numbering over 180 stormed the town near Tsafe local government area.

    But the villagers mobilised and resisted the attack, which reportedly lasted for about four hours.

    At least 59 of the bandits were said to have been killed by the courageous villagers.

    Our correspondent noticed that three military vehicles with soldiers have arrived the town since Wednesday morning as the villagers also prepare for another round of resistance against the expected attackers.

    Acting Force Information Officer Major Clement K Abiade told our correspondent the military authorities were aware of the incident and had mobilised men to the scene.

    Read Also; Electoral materials intercepted in Zamfara

    One of the villagers, who identified himself as Chairman Malaha, told our correspondent on phone they were compelled to resist the bandits because they were tired of extortion.

    It was gathered that over 100 villagers were abducted recently by the bandits.

    Danjibga is a commercial town with many affluent people, making them an easy target for the bandits.

    Residents told our correspondent the bandits force abductees to pay as much as N5-15million.

    During a recent wedding ceremony, the bandits were said to have disguised as women and killed the family head before seizing over 15 women, who are said to have been in captivity for over 20 days.

    Our correspondent gathered the ruffled bandits were regrouping for another attack on the villagers, infuriated by the strong resistance during Tuesday’s attack.

  • Bandits abduct nursing mothers, new bride, others in Zamfara community

    Armed bandits on Monday night abducted over a dozen people, including a new bride and some nursing mothers, in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    The incident happened at 11.45 p.m.

    It was learnt that the heavily armed bandits shot sporadically into the air, scaring the residents.

    A teacher at the Government Girls Secondary School in Zurmi, Falalu Ashafa said his wife, mother, two children and nanny were among those abducted in the attack.

    He said after the attack, 26 persons, including three lactating mothers and a newly-wedded bride, were missing and believed to have been abducted.

    The Zurmi attack came two days after a similar attack on a viewing centre at Birnin Magajim on Saturday.

    In the previous attack, seven people were abducted and are yet to be released.

    Security agencies in Zamfara State are yet to make any official statement on the Saturday attack.

    Killings and kidnapping for ransom have continued in Zamfara communities, despite security reinforcement and subsequent change of the police commissioner.

    The command’s spokesman Mohammed Shehu said the police repelled the Monday night attack but later realised that 13 people had been abducted.

    The spokesman said the hoodlums stormed Majema area of Zurmi to cause mayhem and breakdown of law and order in the community.

    “On the spur of the moment, combined teams of police/military and Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) at Zurmi responded promptly and repelled the attack.

    “As a result, the attackers were forced to beat a retreat back to Dumburum forest. Sadly enough, 13 persons were discovered to have been kidnapped by the attackers.

    “The command, in its efforts to ensure the successful rescue of the abducted victims, dispatched a Search-and-Rescue operation team to complement the effort of the joint security personnel currently on extensive bush-combing.

    “The media will be duly briefed on the outcome of the rescue operation.

    “The command appeals for continued support and cooperation with the police and other security agencies by giving timely and useful information on the activities of criminal elements in the state.”

     

     

  • Zamfara consoles families of attack victims

    The Zamfara State Acting Governor , Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji,  on Sunday attended the funeral prayers of victims killed by armed bandits in Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

    Rikiji, who is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly,    condoled with the families of the victims and people of Maradun Emirate and described the incident as unfortunate and worrisome.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bandits attacked the village on Saturday around 4 p.m.

    Rikiji said the State Government had been concerned about security matters.

    “It is very disturbing, so distracting the way our people are being killed by terrorists.

    “More often than not, we could not even concentrate and face our work, due to pressures of insecurity in our communities,” he said.

    He urged security operatives in the state to maximise their efforts in tackling the challenges.

    Rikiji noted that the state government had been providing all necessary support to security agencies in the state.

    “We are ever ready to continue to offer any support to security agencies, at whatever cost, in order to address the current security situation in the state,” he said.

    He urged people of the state to continue with prayers to seek Allah’s interventions to end the situation.

    The acting governor also appealed to communities to provide information on security to security agencies for prompt response.

    The heads of security agencies in the state were also in attendance during the prayers.

    In their separate remarks, the Emir of Maradun, Alhaji Garba Tambari and Chairman Maradun Local Government Area, Dr Yahaya Shehu, called for deployment of more security personnel in the area.  (NAN)

  • Security: Niger Govt deploys security teams to fish out bandits

    Niger state government has deployed security teams to curtail the activities of armed bandits terrorizing Munya local government area of the state.

    The armed bandits were said to have been chased out of Zamfara state by security operatives for acts ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery.

    The residents of the community had complained over the excessive attacks of the bandits in recent times which had resulted to kidnappings to the government.

     The leader of the Vigilante in Sariki Pawa, Saliah Mohammed, who spoke to a team of journalists said the joint effort of the security agencies provided by the state government have reduced bandits operations in Munya and its environs.

    According to him, the security challenge is being caused by the porous boundaries of Kaduna, Zamfara and other neighboring states,  stating that more needs to be done in the part of the government to put an end to the activities of the bandits.

    The Leader of Vigilante however commanded the effort of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, for his quick intervention in providing security whenever it is needed.

    The Secretary of Munya Council, Aliyu Dogo said there had been peace for sometime in the local government council until the bandits chased from  other states decided to use the forest as their home.

    “The bandits chased from Zamfara have been terrorising villages situated along Sarikin Pawa – Kaduna road. When we got the information that they are around, we alerted the state government and they responded promptly by deploying security operatives comprises of military, police and vigilante to deal with it.

    “The state government intervention has helped a lot to reduce the menace as the security personnel deployed in the affected areas does not give them a breathing space to perform their act”, he said.

    The Village Head of Sarikin Pawa, Mallam Musa Mohammed who also commended government intervention called for more security personnel to battle the bandits that have vowed to make life unbearable for the unsuspected citizens of the area.

    “We need the government to send more soldiers and police to protect us from the hands of Zamfara bandits, they are robbing our people on daily basis. They are hiding in the bush with dangerous weapons.

    “Bandits and kidnappers who were dislodged from Zamfara had shifted their base to Sarikin Pawa,  wreaking havoc on the part of the state, come to our aid urgently. “

  • Bandits kill policeman, five others in Zamfara

    No fewer than six persons including a police corporal were killed on Friday by bandits at Gurbin Bore village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    It quoted the   Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state,   Mohammed Shehu, as saying the bandits numbering about 100 attacked the community at about 10 pm on Friday.

    He said three other persons were severely wounded and had been taken to hospital where they were receiving treatment.

    “Eleven vehicles including a police vehicle, three motorcycles and five kiosks were set ablaze by the hoodlums,” he said.

    The command spokesman said the bandits who were suspected to have come from Dumburum forest were engaged by a combined team of counter terrorists, comprising police Mobile Force, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) personnel stationed in the area, which repelled the criminals.

    He said however that the footpath of the bandits were being trailed in the bushes and assured that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to book.

    Also speaking  on the matter, the Vice Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Council, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, said a total of 13 shops were burnt while 15 vehicles were set ablaze.

    An eye witness and a resident, Mr Manir Salihu, said his family had always been threatened by the bandits including two attempts to set his house on fire while members of the family were inside.

     

  • Bandits demand N100m for seven abducted in Zamfara

    The Zamfara State Police Command said armed bandits have abducted seven persons from Nahuche village in Bungudu Local Government Area.

    The police said the villagers, including a former councillor, Bello Daniya, were abducted in the early hours of yesterday.

    An eyewitness, Malam Sani Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the bandits besieged the village in large numbers, fired shots into the air and ordered the villagers to show them the house of Bungudu Local Government Area’s All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Alhaji Hamisu Coordinator.

    He said the abductors found themselves in the former councillor’s house, who is a neighbour to the APC chairman, where they took him, four boys and two girls.

    Ibrahim said the abductors later released one of the victims with a note demanding N100 million as ransom to release the remaining victims.

    Police spokesman Mohammed Shehu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said a combined team of security operatives were on the trail of the abductors.

    He urged the public with useful information on the movement of criminals to report to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

  • Military/police arrest suspected cross-border bandits, others

    The Command Army Records (CAR) Lokoja, yesterday, paraded six suspected criminals operating in military uniform.

    Some of the suspects who engaged soldiers of the (CAR) in a shootout, along the Felele axis, sustained gunshots in the encounter.

    The Commander, CAR, Maj.-Gen. Felix Agugo, bemoaned the menace of criminals who have formed the habit of adorning themselves in military fatigue to perpetrate heinous crimes.

    The self-confessed leader of the gang, Joseph Musa, who claimed to have crossed over into Kogi from neighbouring Benue State, said members of the gang “work as mercenaries”, and veer into other criminal activities, at other times.

    Another member of the gang, Japhet Atehi, who said he’s Tiv, claimed to have newly joined the gang, owing to ‘lack of work”.

    Others included Asen, Saviour Dennis and Terfa, who remains at large.

    Items recovered from the suspects included Pump Actions, two AK47 and several rounds of life ammunition.

    Governor Yahaya Bello who was present when they were paraded, enjoined the people of the state to partner with government in ridding Kogi of criminal elements.

    He commended the Army for their untiring efforts at fighting criminality, both in the state and other parts of the country.

    His words: “The task of fighting criminality is not for Mr. President alone. I call on my colleague governors, local government administrators, the chiefs, community leaders, to join hands with Mr. President, to bring criminality down.

    “Here in Kogi, we are expanding a lot of efforts and resources on fighting criminality despite our meagre resources. We are spending a lot to secure life and property, and I expect my colleague governors who have boundaries with us to do the same.”

    Also, the state police command paraded two suspected kidnap for ransom gang members; Hammed Saleh aka Auta of Fulani Camp, Obajana and Dulla Danladi of Fulani Camp, Gada Biyu.

    “Following recent attacks on motorists along the Okene-Lokoja road by some suspected criminal elements which led to the killing of a luxury bus driver, anti-robbery squad led by DSP Babagana Bukar, trailed and arrested some of the suspects….

    “Investigation is in progress. They will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation”, said the command’s PPRO, William Aya.”