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  • Half of Katsina State under bandits’ attack, says lawmaker

    Half of Katsina State under bandits’ attack, says lawmaker

    The member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State and Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli yesterday raised an alarm over bandits’ invasion of Katsina State.

    He said more than half of the state was currently occupied by bandits.

    In a motion of urgent public importance, Sada Soli said about 17 local government areas of the state were currently being occupied by the bandits, adding that he could not say the last time he was able to sleep in his Katsina residence.

    Following the motion, the House resolved to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to further direct security agencies to sustain their pressure on those perpetrating violence and criminal activities in Katsina State and the country in general.

    The House also asked the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to urgently provide assistance to the affected communities and support the displaced persons across the state.

    The Katsina lawmaker reminded his colleagues that Section (33) and (41) of the Constitution provided that every person has the right to life and that no one should be deprived intentionally of his/her life.

    He said Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Radda, had prioritized the security and safety of all the people of the state by taking immediate and effective measures to enhance the collaboration between the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and the relevant security agencies.

    Read Also: Time has preserved Awo’s principles, legacies – Tinubu

    He said the attack by bandits across communities in the state had devastating impacts on the lives and livelihoods of the people.

    Sada Soli expressed concern about the escalating banditry attacks in Katsina State resulting in daily loss of lives, destruction of properties and kidnapping of innocent men, women, and children

    According to him, security agencies were yet to take immediate and decisive action to address the challenges in Katsina State.

    He alleged that some gangs of armed bandits from neighbouring Kaduna and Zamfara states were making all efforts to gain control over some communities in Katsina.

    He said Katsina State might

  • Flush out remnants of bandits, kidnappers in FCT, NSCDC boss tells personnel

    Flush out remnants of bandits, kidnappers in FCT, NSCDC boss tells personnel

    The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi has ordered Security agents in Gwagwalada and Kwali axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to flush out remnants of bandits and kidnappers within the areas.

    Audi, who gave the order during the inauguration of the new Operation Office of the NSCDC at the Headquarters of the Kwali Local Government Council, Abuja, said intelligence reports indicated that bad guys are now hiding around the hill areas of Gwagwalada and Kwali.

    Audi said: “Citizens and residents of Kwali should be at alert because we understand that some bad guys are infiltrating these hilly areas of Kwali and Gwagwalada.

    “We enjoin all residents of these areas, and in particular Kwali to provide timely information to security agencies who are now working in synergy to flush out all this bad guys. They have been degraded elsewhere, so we have to get rid of them from the entire FCT.”

    Audi, who praised the Kwali Area Council for building a befitting ediface for the NSCDC, said the Corps would reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that they do their own parts in safeguarding lives and property as well as critical national assets.

    Read Also: Senate passes NDIC Act amendment Bill for second reading

    Audi also inaugurated three gun-fitted trucks at the headquarters of the FCT Command of the NSCDC as part of activities to mark the International Civil Defence Day and commemorate his three years in office as the third substantive Commandant-General of the NSCDC.

    Speaking at the event, the CG said going by recent events across the country, the NSCDC has demonstrated its paramilitary capabilities and carved a nitch for itself in various military operations and in the process lost some of its personnel in line of duty.

    Audi however warned the personnel of the Corps not to deploy the equipment being inaugurated to intimidate, harass or molest Nigerians, insisting that the equipment should be used to deal a fatal blow on terrorists, kidnappers and bandits.

    “You must give us results with these equipment at your disposal. Go about your duties of maintenance of peace and security together with other agencies, especially the Army and the Police.

    “We will continue to serve in all joint operations, and remember so much is expected from you now because to whom much is given, much is expected” Audi said.

    He praised President Bola Tinubu for approving the promotion of over 21,000 personnel of the Corps and urged citizens to provide intelligence information for security agencies to enable them respond quickly to critical situations.

    The Commandant of the FCT Command of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu praised the CG for changing the narratives of the Corps within the past three years.

    According to Odumosu, the policy of the CG to restructure and rejig the Corps have started yielding the desired results across all cadres and formations of the NSCDC. He said his Command would not let the CG and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike down as it would protect critical national assets and infrastructures and rid the FCT of bad elements.

  • Bandits kill nine, abduct ex-CBN director, 34 others

    Bandits kill nine, abduct ex-CBN director, 34 others

    No fewer than nine persons were reportedly killed by bandits in Kwasam community, Kauru LGA and Gwada community, Igabi LGA both in Kaduna State.

    The bandits also reportedly abducted 35 others including a retired Director of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), his brother and the brother’s wife, just as nine people were injured during the attacks.

    The retired CBN Director was identified as Zakariya Markus.

    The breakdown showed that six persons were killed, five abducted and two injured in Kauru LGA, while three persons were killed, seven injured and 30 others kidnapped in Igabi LGA of the state. 

    According to sources, the incident occurred penultimate Friday when bandits invaded the community a few minutes after 10 pm. 

    Sources said the bandits picked two people who, at gun point, led them to the residence of the retired CBN official and abducted him. 

    A source said: “Bandits moved into his family house, abducted his brother and the brother’s wife.

    “Residents rushed out in an attempt to rescue the victims, but the bandits fired at them, killing six and injuring two.

     “Those killed include Danmasani Gwaska, Mrs. Giwa John, Kapishi Barmu, Ganya Ubangida, Shigama Salisu and Gani Magawata.

    “Those kidnapped include Mr. Zakariya Markus (retired CBN director), Mr. Monday Markus (younger brother of the retired CBN director), Monday Markus’ wife, Mr. Alhamdu Makeri’s son and Baban Fati of Kauru.”

    Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has pleaded for aggressive military operations against bandits across the state, following the attacks.

    Read Also: Bandits kill nine, abduct ex-CBN Director, 34 others

    The governor also sent his condolences to the families that lost their loved ones.

    Governor Uba Sani spoke through the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, at Gwada and Kerawa villages in Igabi LGA, during an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in the area, in the company of the Garrison Commander, One Division Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen. Muhammad Kana, alongside other military commanders and security forces working in the general areas. 

    The Governors’s representative said: “We are here on behalf of Governor Uba Sani to first of all condole with you over the lives lost in Kerawa and Sabon Birni Wards in Igabi LGA and also Kwassam, Kurera and Kan Makama communities in Kauru LGA.

    “May Almighty God grant the deceased eternal rest and grant speedy recovery to the injured.

    “I want to assure you that we are also here for an assessment of the security situation, and as you can see, troops are presently carrying out operations in these locations, to which you have attested.

    “The Governor of Kaduna State is not relenting in his efforts, and he is also working towards sustained aggressive military operations in the frontline locations and emerging fronts like Kauru LGA.

    “The delegation had meetings with traditional leaders, led by the Acting District Head of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, as well as religious and community leaders drawn from Dunki, Gwada, Bina, Maraci, Tami, Karshi and Kerawa, where issues critical to the improvement of the security situation were discussed.”

    The team is expected to visit, Kajuru and Kauru local government areas.

  • Bandits kill nine, abduct ex-CBN Director, 34 others

    Bandits kill nine, abduct ex-CBN Director, 34 others

    Bandits have reportedly killed no fewer than nine persons in Kwasam community, Kauru LGA and Gwada community in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.

    The bandits also reportedly abducted 35 others, including a retired Director of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), his brother and the brother’s wife.

    They were said to have also injured nine people during the attack in the two LGAs.

    The retired CBN Director was identified as Zakariya Markus

    The breakdown showed that six persons were killed, five abducted and two injured in Kauru LGA while three persons were killed, seven injured, and 30 others kidnapped in Igabi LGA of the State.

    According to sources, the incident occurred penultimate Friday around 10pm when bandits invaded the community.

    Sources said the bandits picked two people who, at gun point, led them to the residence of the retired CBN staff and abducted him.

    “Banidits moved to his family house, abducted his brother and the brother’s wife. Residents rushed out in an attempt to rescue victims but the bandits fired at them killing six, injuring two.

    Read Also: NSCDC operatives, soldiers arrest 42 fleeing bandits in Abuja

    “Those killed, include Danmasani Gwaska, Mrs. Giwa John, Kapishi Barmu, Ganya Ubangida, Shigama Salisu and Gani Magawata.

    “Those kidnapped include Mr. Zakariya Markus (retired CBN director), Mr. Monday Markus (Younger brother to the retired CBN staff), Mrs. Monday Markus (wife of Monday), Mr. Alhamdu Makeri’s son and Baban Fati of Kauru.”

    Kaduna Governor Uba Sani has appealed for aggressive military operations against bandits across the State following the attacks.

    The Governor sent his condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in Igabi and Kauru LGAs.

    He spoke through the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, at Gwada and Kerawa villages in Igabi LGA, during an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in the area, in the company of the Garrison Commander, One Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Muhammad Kana, other military commanders and security forces working.

    He said: “We are here on behalf of Governor Uba Sani to first of all condole with you over the lives lost in Kerawa and Sabon Birni Wards in Igabi LGA and also Kwassam, Kurera and Kan Makama communities in Kauru LGA.

    “May Almighty God grant the deceased eternal rest, and grant a speedy recovery to the injured.

    “I want to assure you that we are also here for an assessment of the security situation and as you can see, troops are presently carrying out operations in these locations, to which you have attested. The Governor of Kaduna State is not relenting in his efforts, and he is also working towards sustained aggressive military operations in the frontline locations and emerging fronts like Kauru LGA.”

  • Bandits kill two policemen, abduct 40 in Zamfara

    Bandits kill two policemen, abduct 40 in Zamfara

    Bandits have killed two policemen, and two residents in Kasuwa-Daji Town, Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    They also abducted about 40 people during an attack on the town.

    Residents said the bandits invaded the town early hours of Tuesday and started shooting indiscriminately to scare them.

    A resident of Kaura-Namoda town, Abubakar Kaura, told Channels that the bandits entered the town with sophisticated weapons, including anti-aircraft guns.

    He said the bandits attacked the home of the former State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Hamisu Kasuwar-Daji and abducted one of his wives and grandchildren.

    According to him, the ex-NURTW chief’s house is close to a police station in the town.

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    The bandits attacked the station, disarmed the policemen on duty and killed two.

    Another resident of Kasuwa-Daji who pleaded anonymity for security reasons said the bandits also killed two residents.

    He confirmed that about 40 persons were abducted during their house-to-house raid.

    “Two residents were also killed, not only policemen. As of now, about forty persons have been whisked away by the bandits,” he said.

    The spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command Yazid Abubakar confirmed the attack.

    “Yes, there was an attack in Kasuwar-Daji early hours of today,” he said.

    “We are yet to confirm the number of the residents abducted but the Commissioner of Police has deployed additional troops to restore normalcy in the town.”

  • Bandits demand food items, N290m to release seven kidnapped victims

    Bandits demand food items, N290m to release seven kidnapped victims

    Bandits who abducted seven residents of Kuduru, a neighbouring community of Bwari Area Council in Abuja, have demanded N290m ransom for their release.  

    The residents, including a pregnant woman, three children and four adults, were abducted on December 28 at the Kuduru extension. 

    According to a leader of the community, the bandits have threatened to kill two out of the victims if the N290 million is not paid on time.

    He said the abductors also demanded for food items, drugs, bed sheets and cardigans.

    “They have reached out to us to bring N290 million to secure their release or that they will kill two of them. We have a pregnant woman and three children among them.

    Read Also: Bandits abduct FHA Director in Abuja

    “They asked us to bring bags of rice, packs of Indomie, cough syrups,  antibiotics, bedsheets and cardigans for the bandits’ use.

    “They insisted that the N290 million ransom must be complete for them to let our people go,” he added.

    He pleaded with the Inspector-General of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun and the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, to come to the rescue of the hostages. 

    He said: “We know that they are trying their best but we plead with them to rescue our families like they did to the six sisters and the Ariyos.

    “We understand that these people are already falling sick in captivity because of the harsh weather and the treatment there.”

  • Bandits abduct FHA Director in Abuja

    Bandits abduct FHA Director in Abuja

    Suspected bandits have kidnapped a director at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Aondo Ver. 

    According to a source, the incident happened at Pambara New Extension, Bwari Central Area of FCT around 12:30 am on Thursday.

    Pambara New Extension is about 200 metres away from the military camp and checkpoint in Bwari.

    kidnappers were said to have gained access through the fence after cutting the barb wires.

    Read Also: Troops attack bandits in Taraba, recover weapons

    It was also gathered that all attempts by the vigilantes in the area to rescue the victim proved abortive due to lack of sophisticated weapons.

    All efforts to get the reactions of the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh were futile. 

    She didn’t respond to calls and text messages put across to her. 

  • Why military should tackle illegal miners, bandits, by Alake

    Why military should tackle illegal miners, bandits, by Alake

    The Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development Dr Dele Alake yesterday said unidentified scrupulous elements were threatening his life because of his resistance to illegal mining.

    Hesaid his ministry would engage the military to tackle bandits involved in illegal mining because of their possession of sophisticated weapons and ammunition.

    Alake disclosed this while addressing reporters at Bodija, Ibadan site of the explosion.

    The minister, who expressed shock at the magnitude of the damage caused by the explosion, urged Nigerians to be watchful in their neighbourhoods and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

    Alake was received at the site by the head of the emergency response committee set up by the state government, Prof. Temitope Alonge, and the  University College Hospital (UCH) Chief Medical Director, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo. 

    Human rights activists, including Comrades Awa Bamiji, Tunde Adeoye and Olayinka Agboola, were also there.

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    Alake expressed surprise that heavy explosives could be stored at the neighbourhood without  suspicion or report to security agencies.

    He reiterated government’s determination to secure mining sites, saying  bandits around mining sites are being sponsored by powerful Nigerians.

    Alake, who said  he has been receiving threat messages since he unfolded plans to secure mining sites, he would remain undaunted.

    The minister said the bandits were in possession of sophisticated weapons and ammunition because they are being sponsored. 

    He said their sophisticated weapons made it imperative that the military should invited to halt their activities.

    Alake noted that the  bandits were laying mines for ground forces in the forests.

    His words: “ We’ve been working with the security agencies even before this unfortunate incident. Only last week, the president set up a committee on our natural resources, which I am chairing, and we held a maiden meeting in my office, which was one of the reasons I was not here that very day because it was after Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. 

    “That committee was raised and we moved to my office and started work. We are having another expanded meeting in few days’ time with all the security agencies and heads of the  security agencies involved. 

    “Prior to all of these, we had been mapping out strategies. It is also part of my seven-point agenda, which I rolled out a couple of months ago about securing our natural resources, especially that which is within my purview, which is solid minerals. “If you followed my budget defence at at the House of Representatives or Senate, I did say categorically to the whole world that powerful Nigerians are behind banditry associated with Illegal mining in this country. I said it. 

    “Of course, I have since received threats, but we are undaunted because these things have to be said. In any case, I wasn’t saying anything new. “Most people knew. Most people are saying it. I only gave it an official stamp and it is based on intelligence report. There is a lot of connivance along and among the social strata in the society- high, medium and low. And I did say at the budgetary defence that we are employing both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies and tactics to tackle insecurity. The details, I won’t be able to  disclose to you publicly. 

    “The Federal Government is working in concert with all the critical stakeholders- state, local government and host communities. This is because at the end of the day,  whatever security outfit you come up with would have to involve  the host communities, people on ground who have very efficient knowledge of the local terrain. You can not do without them.”

    “And one of the things that happen now, even in the forest, unknown to many people, is that these bandits being sponsored by highly placed people have access to heavy funding and they have heavy arsenal, weaponry, arms and ammunition. 

    “They even lay mines on ground against our ground forces that are moving into the forest to dislodge them. That is why we required the engagement of the military. That’s why I have been meeting with the Minister of Defence and we mapped out all the strategies so that the military will go into the forest and clear them and the mines before the new security outfit we are rejigging at the moment comes to the fore.”

  • JUST IN: Bandits reportedly invade Army Estate in Abuja, kidnap two

    JUST IN: Bandits reportedly invade Army Estate in Abuja, kidnap two

    Two persons have reportedly been kidnapped in a military estate on the outskirts of Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    It was learnt that the bandits invaded Phase 2, Army Estate, Kurudu at about 10 pm on Thursday, January 18.

    According to eyewitnesses, there was an exchange of gunfire between the bandits and the estate security officials.

    However, the gunmen were said to have escaped with two victims.

    Recall that Abuja has witnessed a significant rise in the number of kidnapping incidents recently.

    On Wednesday, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike vowed to make Abuja hot for kidnappers.

    Read Also: Confusion as FCT Police Command faults report of rescued man abducted in Abuja

    The minister said he had received marching orders from President Bola Tinubu to provide all that the security agencies would need to keep the federal capital safe.

    In the same vein, Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, established a Special Intervention Squad (SIS), in the Federal Capital Territory to curb the activities of kidnappers and bandits.

    The SIS has in the last two days deployed to the six Area Councils of Abuja, more especially in Bwari where the kidnappers are operating daily.

    Reacting to the incident, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josphine Adeh told our correspondent that all questions on the incident should be directed to the Army spokesman.

    Details shortly…

  • ’Strong forces’ for deployment against bandits, kidnappers

    ’Strong forces’ for deployment against bandits, kidnappers

    The Federal Government is planning to rid Nigerian forests of criminal elements, Minister of Environment Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal said yesterday.

    He disclosed that security forces will be deployed to flush out bandits and kidnappers responsible for insecurity in those hidden places.

    Lawal said apart from constituting security risks, bandits, poachers, kidnappers and other criminal elements hibernating in the forests are threats to the Great Green Wall projects aimed at fencing the country from desert encroachment.

    The minister, who spoke in Kaduna at the  two-day top management retreat organised by the ministry said though there are Park Rangers and some Forest Guards in place, they are not enough to tackle the bandits and other criminals.

    At the retreat themed: “Policy Embedment and Prioritization of Key Action For a Renewed Hope in Environmental Management” were the Minister of State for Environment, Directors in the Ministry, heads of agencies under the Ministry and resource persons.

    Lawal said: “We have a very serious issue with our forests; our forests have become hibernation grounds for bandits, poachers and kidnappers. So, the only way we can safe the forests and safe our communities, is to do something very drastic about it. 

    “We need to get enough force into the forests to clean them of these miscreants that have turned our forest into something else. So, we are on it. We have similar issue in oil areas and mining sites. 

    “Government will come up with a very strong measure of trying to get enough forces into the forests and flush these people out, because if we don’t do that, there is no way we are going to make progress in our great green wall, where we have invested a lot of money in trying to fence Nigeria from the encroachment of the desert. 

    “We already have Park Rangers and some Forest Guards, but they are ineffective because the boots on the ground are not enough to tackle the challenges we have; they don’t have enough force to confront the bandits and the rest of them.

    “We have started doing something about this, that is why I visited the Minister of Blue Economy two days ago, because they are also talking about the issue of Coastal Guards, taking a queue from what Americans did when they were bedeviled by piracy in the 16th and 17th centuries.”

    Noting that the ministry has signed a performance bond with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 18-point deliverables in the priority areas related to its mandates, Lawal said deliberations at the the retreat would focus on the 18- point deliverables which are also in line with the eight- points agenda of the Tinubu administration. 

    He said the retreat underscored the significance of National Climate Change Policy and the pivotal role it plays in shaping the participants’ collective efforts at addressing the challenges.

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    Lawal said: “To accelerate Ogoni Clean up, participants of this retreat need to brainstorm on strategies to increase government commitment and support, improve capacity building, enhance monitoring and evaluation, create public awareness as well as, explore various conflict resolution mechanisms and international collaboration in Ogoni Land.

    “Reclaiming brownfields and greyfields into sustainable livelihood support system across the Country, we collectively have to think of ways to doing this through environmental restoration, economic development, and community well-being. This retreat should explore means of easily identifying, assessing, and mitigating the potential environmental and social impacts of all proposed projects before it is approved and implemented”

    He added: “The retreat should deliberate and proffer practicable solutions to be put in place in states affected by desertification. We should consider effective water management and plant species selection in areas affected by desertification. We should also propose comprehensive and coordinated approach involving various stakeholders in implementing erosion control measures across the Country.

    “We should devise means to implement an economic system designed to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources. 

    “We should also ensure safe deployment of modern biotechnologies and new breeding techniques in agriculture, through consideration of involvement of a combination of regulatory oversight, scientific scrutiny, and public engagement.”

    The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Isiaq Salako, said Nigerians should take deliberate actions to stop practices that are harmful to the environment.

    He said the discontinuation of the harmful practices would contribute effectively to climate change agenda.