The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Zamfara State

  • Absence of governance and Zamfara misery

    Last week, Professor AngoAbdullahi, the convener of Northern Elders Forum and former vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria while calling on President Buhari to ‘demonstrate a higher level of concern and sensitivity to the plight of traumatised citizens, especially in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Niger, Plateau and Taraba states, alerted the nation to what he described as ‘serious irresponsibility of governance in the country’.

    He probably spoke the minds of many Nigerians who have been wondering whether there has ever been real governance in the country since the exit of Obasanjo in 2007 when bandits took over the country deciding who was to be secretary to government, attorney general and new leadership of the various anti-corruption agencies probing them for financial malfeasances.

    The much that has changed under President Buhari’s ‘government of change’ is that while criminals are no more deciding who get what, when and how in the country, they are using the resources they illegally and immorally acquired to hold the nation to ransom in spite of a democratically elected sovereign who is allowed to exploit the lacuna in our laws to end people’s misery and pursue the greatest happiness for the greatest number of Nigerians.

    Before AngoAbdullahi’s intervention, there were two other recent developments which appeared to confirm absence of governance in the country. First was South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s  scapegoating of immigrants while on the campaign trail for his re-election bid coming up in May, a development which has sparked fresh xenophobic attacks on African migrants especially Nigerians. He was quoted as saying: “Everybody just arrives in our townships and rural areas and set up businesses without licenses and permits. We are going to bring this to an end”. The above campaign rhetoric which has since gone viral on social media is also said to be responsible for renewed police clampdown in the guise of ‘saving their communities from the harmful effects of imported substandard goods and ridding their street and alleys of criminal elements’.

    But for the fact that we often like to play the ostrich, we know who the cap fits. Nigeria tops the list of unscrupulous drug manufacturers and importers of fake and substandard goods. This was an unwinnable war for the late Professor Dora Akunyili and her Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).Thisday newspaper recently quoted an importer of electrical materials in Onitsha, Chief Ethelbert Uzodinma who lamented, “We Nigerians are our own problems. These people take genuine products to manufacturers and ask them to water them down in quality”. The paper also quoted another trader in Onitsha, Mr. CallistusEzeuba who admitted that fake products are even more with eatables which are dangerous to health. And in recent times, many criminal-minded Nigerians involved in manufacturing of fake drugs and eatables have been arrested from various locations in Lagos, Aba and Onitsha.

    It is on record that, the former Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, not too long ago alerted Nigerians about the incidence of “cutting corners” by local manufacturers of iron and steel products who put out products  which were supposed to measure 16 millimetres (mm) in diameter, but turned out to be 12mm. The utilisation of such sub-standard steel components was said to be partly responsible for the incidence of collapsed buildings resulting in the death of over 400 people across the country in the last few years.

    The minister of agriculture, AuduOgbeh on Channel Television programme a few weeks back also spoke of some Nigerians with criminal tendencies who imported substandard goods to sabotage our nation’s effort at self-sufficiency. If we cannot put our own house in order by bringing these criminal elements to book, South Africa is not obliged to allow us export lawlessness and anarchy into their country.

    The second event was the federal government’s belated banning of all illegal gold mining in Zamfara State. This was said to be responsible for the death of over 5,000 people including the 45 illegal gold miners from Bindim Village, in Maru Local Government Area killed on November 8, 2016 in Zamfara bloody gold miners’ war of ex-generals and politicians. Part of the fall-out of the illegal mining, was also the reported case of major outbreak of lead poisoning in children related to the processing of lead-rich ore for the extraction of gold since March 2010. Then Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) alerted Nigeria of an increasing number of childhood deaths and illness in villages in the two local government areas (LGAs) of Bukkuyum and Anka. There was also the United States’ Centers for Disease Control (US CDC) that assisted in the investigations confirming severe lead poisoning in more than 100 children in the villages of Dareta and Yargalma.

    And as if to prolong the misery of the people of  Zamfara, there  were also bandits who left  sorrow, tears and blood in such areas as  Ajia and Wonaka in BirninMagaji local government,  Kayayi village in Shinkafi local government and Yan TaskuwaKucheri, TungarKolo following rustling of hundreds of  livestock, goats and birds.

    Unfortunately, just like the herdsmen’s mindless killings of innocent farmers and their families especially in the Middle Belt region of the country that went on unchallenged in the last eight years, it was only unfavourable public opinion that forced President Buhari’s ‘government of change’ to belatedly ban illegal mining, some two weeks ago, citing police intelligence reports which “clearly established a strong and glaring nexus between the activities of armed bandits and illicit miners”. Many will argue, if there had been any form of governance both at the state and federal levels, there would have been no illegal mining going on unchallenged for several years in the first place.

    Our major problem since Babangida hearkened to the false prophecies emanating from Breton Woods institutions and turned our nation to the dumping ground for various kinds of sub-standard goods and products in the mid-eighties has been lack of political will by our successive leaders to act on behalf of Nigerians. Just as they look the other way as fortune seekers as retired military officers and powerful politicians subject ordinary people and children of Zamfara State to untold hardship in the last few years, President Buhari and his APC government even while in possession of dossiers on unpatriotic elements who want our nation to remain importer of labour of other societies seem to want to be politically correct to avoid being accused of stereotyping.

    We will continue to move in circles until we are ready to confront our own demons. Since no one deliberately sets out to destroy his father’s house, it is obvious those who are doing everything to destroy the country to satisfy their greed have no faith in the nation. An elected sovereign with a fixed term must therefore be prepared to govern, sometimes by taking unpopular decision in the overall interest of a nation and awaits the judgment of history.

     

  • How illegal mining fuels insecurity in Zamfara, by FG

    The Federal Government on Wednesday revealed how illegal mining activities aggravated insecurity in Zamfara before its April 7 prohibition order and launch of special operations to stop bandits in the state.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who featured at a Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”, said banditry, kidnapping, killing and cattle rustling were largely sponsored by the illegal miners in the state.

    Speaking on the Programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the minister said that, the miners were fueling instability in the state to pave the way for their illegal activities.

    “People begin to ask what is the nexus between instability in Zamfara, kidnapping and banditry and illegal mining.

    “There is a lot. For instance, if you are doing illegal mining, abinitio, it is illegal. The more unsettled the area is the better for you.

    “We find out that a lot of ammunition and money were being turned out to the bandits so as to make the area ungovernable.

    “The higher the rate of the crisis the better for the illegal miners,” he said.

    The minister said that the commencement of “Operation PUFF- ADDER”, a full scale security offensive against the bandits, had yielded results in the past weeks.

    “We have a harvest of criminals many of them arrested, their actions neutralized and cache of ammunition recovered.

    “On the April 14, they neutralised 11 kidnappers, recovered six AK47, 1200 rounds of ammunition.

    Read Also: Troops kill six bandits in Zamfara

    “Shortly after that, they were able to arrest those who kidnapped the Channels Television correspondent,” he said.

    Mohammed urged Nigerians to give deserving credit to the police and the military who, though overstretched, are doing their best to keep the country safe.

    The Federal Government had banned mining activities in Zamfara, ordering foreigners within mining sites to vacate the area within 48 hours.

    The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who disclosed this after a security meeting at the presidential villa on April 7, said the licences of individuals and companies that disobey the directive to stop the activities would be revoked.

    He had assured sustained efforts to flush out, and permanently put an end to banditry and criminality in the state.

    NAN

     

     

  • Zamfara: Council of chiefs reaffirms stance on ‘killing of villagers’

    THE Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad Muhammad, has reaffirmed the Zamfara State Council of Chiefs’ stance on allegations of killing of innocent villagers during air raids by Air Force jets across different communities.

    The emir stated this in his palace in Anka Local Government Area in an interactive session with reporters while reacting to media reports that the council has apologised to the Air Force.

    The emir said the council had not in any way rescinded its claims over the killings.

    He also insisted that the list of casualties was authentic and had been submitted to the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar,  through an Air Force delegation led by AVM Idi Lubo, who was in the state for a fact-finding mission.

    The emir said Air Marshall Abubakar, through his delegation, revealed that collateral damages were not uncommon during military operations.

    Read also: Troops kill six bandits in Zamfara

    Muhammad said instead of all and sundry to take the war on bandits personal, “most people started blaming emirs”.

    “What we are saying is that we are not in confrontation with anybody, be it the Air Force or any government at any level but innocent people are being killed in the cause of raiding bandits. It is our duty to draw the attention of the authorities concern, so that they check on where they went wrong.”

    The emir explained that the last news briefing held by the council of chiefs about two weeks ago was to exonerate themselves from the allegations levelled against the emirs by the Minister of Defence Lt. General Mansur Dan Ali (retd) that some of the emirs were assisting the bandits.

    “We are custodians of respected traditional institutions; we are custodians of the people’s trust; we are expected to protect the positive interest of our people. We are law-abiding citizens. How can anyone of us engage negatively in the activities of outlaws?” he queried.

    Advising the Air Force and the ground troops to emphasis on mop up on any area they attack, the monarch advised the people to be vigilant and assist security operatives with information and every necessary assistance to end banditry.

  • Troops kill six bandits in Zamfara

    THE Army said yesterday that troops deployed to the Northwest on “Operation Habin Kunama III” have neutralised six bandits and arrested 18 informants, including a district head while on clearance operations.

    Its Acting Director of Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said in a statement that weapons were also recovered from the bandits.

    Col. Musa said: “Troops on ‘Operation Habin Kunama III’, based on credible intelligence about bandits’ movements in Kirsa and Sunke in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on April 20, 2019, continued with the clearance operation into the hinterland to clear the brigands.

    “Consequently, the troops made contact and engaged the bandits in a fierce shoot out in the bushes of Kirsa and Sunke villages, which resulted in the extermination of six criminals, the recovery of two AK 47 riffles and two motorcycles.”

    The acting spokesman added: “Similarly, at the general areas of Doka and Mutu villages in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, troops on clearance operation also had a serious encounter on April 20, 2019, with a group of well-armed bandits, which lasted for about two hours.

    “The brigands, who were armed with sophisticated automatic weapons, were overpowered by troops, forcing survivors among them to abandon their camps and logistics, which were destroyed by the troops.

    “Additionally,18 suspected informants and errand men to the bandits, including the village Heads of Doka and Mutu villages were arrested. The following items were also recovered: three motorcycles, two dane guns and two machetes.

    “The Force Commander, Major  General Hakeem Oladapo Otiki, reiterated the resolve of  troops to tackle the menace of armed banditry and other forms of criminality in Zamfara and the  contiguous states of Kebbi, Katsina and Sokoto.

    “He enjoined members of the public to continue cooperating with the troops and other security agencies by providing information that will assist in dealing with bandits/banditry activities in the states.”

  • Banditry: Emir of Zurmi once asked me to wipe out an entire village – Yari

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, says the government will not apologize over the alleged killing of villagers in the state during bombardment of suspected bandits camps in Dumburum village in Zurmi local government area of the state.

    The governor, who made the statement when a 7-man investigation team on the matter visited him at his Talata-Mafara private residence, said Dunburum village had served as hideout for criminals over the last three years.

    The Council of Chiefs had a fortnight ago alleged that innocent citizens were recently bombarded through air strikes in the area by personnel of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

    “As far as I am concerned and as the head of government in the state, l haven’t seen anything wrong done by the air force, l haven’t received any brief on such matter.

    “Dumburum has been a criminal hideout for over three years and the Emir of Zurmi has once asked me to go and wipe out the area saying all those residing there were bandits, so l am surprised that the emir will be part of those saying innocent people were killed in an encounter in the area,” he said.

    Read also: Zamfara, banditry and Nigeria

    The governor who said some powers were working against the state, maintained that “some people will stay in Abuja and fabricate things against the operations in Zamfara in order to distract the operation, this we must not allow.

    “Please, all security agencies especially the air force should continue with your usual constitutional duties and the state government will give you all the support to facilitate your concentration in trying to bring back peace which has eluded the state since 2007.

    “You should continue with fire power to show the criminals that there is a government in place and we won’t negotiate with them again because when we did that in the past, the leaders pretended as if all was well while they allowed their boys to continue to lay siege on the communities.”

    Handing over a letter of condolence to the governor from the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, the team leader, AVM Idi Lubo said it was part of the chief’s concern in case the allegations were true.

    He said, “the Chief of Air Staff has directed us to properly investigate the matter in order to unravel the truth.

    “We have visited other stakeholders and discovered that there was a misinformation which we have now resolved and wish to assure the people of the state that we shall continue to discharge our assigned responsibilities in protecting the innocent with professionalism.”

    The team which was conducted round by the Commander of 207 Quick Response Group, Squadron Leader Sunkanmi Thomas, thanked all stakeholders for the support given to the Air operations in the state.

    NAN also reports that the team visited heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and government officials among others while in the state. (NAN)

  • Zamfara Emirs make U-turn, apologise to NAF over killings allegations

    The Chairman, Zamfara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, has apologized to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) over its recent allegations that innocent citizens were killed in the state during air strikes by personnel of the Air Force.

    The Chairman Council of Chiefs, who is also the Emir of Anka, made the apology when a seven-man high powered investigation team led by AVM Idi Lubo visited him at his palace in Anka on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the traditional rulers had, a fortnight ago, alleged that air strikes on suspected bandits camps hit at and killed innocent citizens in some parts of the state.

    The emirs spoke at a press briefing through the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru.

    This followed an emergency meeting they held in reaction to an earlier accusation by the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mansur Dan Ali, that some high ranking traditional rulers were conniving with the bandits.

    The Emir of Bungudu also followed up the claim with the release of the names of some persons who were killed in the air strikes.

    The Emir of Anka, however, said “the council regrets the embarrassment caused by the press briefing because it was not targeted at the Air Force or the army but at our own son, the Minister of Defence, who wrongly accused us of complicity in the bandits activities in the state.

    “l apologize over whatever embarrassment the statement may have caused and from now, we have drawn a line, there won’t be anything like that again, and I want to appeal that care should be applied while tracking the bandits and when they run from your fire power into the community, the land army should take over so as to avoid killing the innocent.

    “Out of the 17 emirate councils that we have in the state, mistakes occurred in only four and the submissions we made were gathered in the last two years, l also want to state that nothing happened on innocent citizens in the last six months in the state,” he said.

    While speaking on the list of killed persons that was later released by the Emir of Bungudu, the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs said: “The Emir of Bungudu is not the spokesman of the council even though he read our press briefing that day.

    “The list of victims that he released to the press on a later day did not emanate from me nor was I aware of it as the Chairman, l will only take responsibility because l am the Chairman”.

    He then assured that the traditional council would continue to support security agencies in the fight against armed banditry in the state and urged the army to go and occupy deserted villages where some of the bandits were hiding.

    Earlier, leader of the team, AVM Idi Lubo, said the team was in the state to investigate the true position of the allegations in order to avoid future occurrance.

    “We have also come with condolence letter from the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, in case some innocent people were killed in our encounter with bandits.”

    NAN reports that the team was taken round stakeholders by the Commander of the 207 Quick Response Group in the state, Squadron Leader Sunkanmi Thomas. (NAN)

  • Banditry: We’re unaware of killing of innocent civilians – Zamfara govt.

    Zamfara State Government has denied official knowledge of innocent citizens allegedly being killed during air strikes on suspected bandits camps by the air component of Operation Sharan Daji.

    The denial was made by the Secretary to the Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi when he received a high powered investigation team from the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) headquarters in Gusau on Friday.

    “The report making rounds in some media outlets that civilians were killed during air strikes by personnel of the NAF in some parts of the state is not the official position of the state government.

    “l did not receive any official report to this effect, but only got to know about it in the media.

    “Instances of collateral damage are not supposed to go public but should be discussed in order to avoid future occurrence,” he said.

    The SSG said the information was “an observation from the Council of Chiefs which needs to be substantiated.

    “It is an observation by a group of stakeholders that needs to be ascertained,” the SSG maintained.

    He said, “this is not the time to share blames but we must all come together to cooperate with the security agencies to see an end to the problem of armed banditry and other security challenges facing the state.”

    Read also: One soldier killed, assorted ammunition recovered from bandits in Zamfara

    Prof. Shinkafi who said that the bandits now occupied very large portion of the state in the deep forest, also explained that they smartly used their informers to evade arrival of security men at their identified locations.

    He advised communities in the state to stop concealing the bandits but rather give credible information to the security so that they would be stopped from executing mayhem on them.

    He assured that the state government would continue to facilitate all the needs of the security agencies so that they could succeed.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, AVM Idi Lubo, said members were in the state to investigate the report that innocent civilians were killed by NAF personnel who were alleged to have been striking the wrong targets in the fight against bandits.

    “l want to make it clear that in the Air Force, especially during armed conflicts, we work under the guidance of certain rules of engagement and precision before moving against suspected targets.

    “We are here to ascertain the veracity of the allegations because when people we are trying to protect rise against us, it is not a good development, especially when we know that these pilots and other personnel put their own lives in the line.

    “The NAF is deploying all latest technology in order to be certain of existing suspicious threats before we strike.

    “We will visit the said attacked communities and sympathize with the people if the allegations are true because as humans we cannot be completely right at all times.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state’s Council of Chiefs, a fortnight ago, alleged that the air component of the on-going Operation Sharan Daji in the state shelled wrong targets and killed innocent people. (NAN)

  • One soldier killed, seven bandits neutralised in Zamfara

    One soldier was killed and ammunitions recovered during a duel between bandits and military troops of operation Sharar Daji and exercise Harbin Kunama III in various communities of Zamfara state.

    The troops, while on patrol to KARA Market of Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, also arrested a suspected informant.

    The arrest in turn led to the arrest of three other suspects Lawwali Denden, Salisu Na-mansu, Kabiru Kamarawa from Kamarawa village of Shinkafi axis and Mohammed Sani from Indiri village.

    These were contained in a statement by Major Clem Abiade Force Assistant Director Army Public Relation Officer in Gusau on Friday.

    According to him, the suspects have been handed over to appropriate security agencies for further interrogation and possible prosecutions

    The ongoing dual military Operations Operation “Sharar Daji” and “exercise Harbin Kunama III,” is aimed at mitigating banditry and criminality that is on the high rise in Zamfara.

    The troops in conjunction with the Nigerian Army Deep Blue Special Forces, NAF Air Component and Vigilantes while on clearance operation to ALJUMMA FULANI and KETERE villages in Zamfara State had a fierce encounter with large number of well- armed bandits.

    Read Also: IGP launches operation ‘Puff Adder’ in Zamfara

    Abiade explained that success was recorded due to superior fire power of the troops that enable the military to compel the bandits to flee and abandon their camps, which were set ablaze by the gallant troops.

    “During the encounter, Seven (7) of the bandits were neutralized, while some escaped with possible gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, one soldier had paid the supreme sacrifice, 6 soldiers and a vigilante were wounded.

    “Due to superior fire power of the troops, they were able to compel the bandits to flee and abandoned their camps which were set ablaze by the gallant troops.

    “During the encounter, seven of the bandits were neutralised, while some escaped with possible gunshot wounds.

    “Unfortunately, one soldier had paid the supreme sacrifice, 6 soldiers and a vigilante were wounded,” the statement added.

     

  • Osun moves to secure state from bandit-miners, criminals

    Worried about the likely infiltration of illegal miners and bandits displaced from Zamfara State, Osun State Government on Thursday urged security stakeholders and traditional rulers to be at alert to prevent all forms of criminality.

    Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said: “It has become imperative to put measures in place to checkmate the influx of displaced illegal miners to prevent the reverberation effect of the Zamfara State crisis in Osun.”

    He spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, on Thursday at a security sensitasation programme attended by traditional rulers, security operatives, civil society organisations, politicians, market women, community leaders and top government functionaries.

    The governor spoke on the need for security powered by intelligence gathering, vigilance by traditional rulers in their domain and the need to alert security agents on their observation to prevent crime and criminality.

    Some of the security chiefs at the meeting raised the alarm on the infiltration of mining sites in the state by some bandits and urged the rulers to assist the operatives so that the invaders do not have a foot hold.

    The top security chiefs cautioned landlords against renting out houses to people without knowing their background or profiling them.

    “If you rent out your house to a person who turns out to be a bandit, you will bear the consequence with him,” Governor Oyetola warned landlords.

    He urged traditional rulers to work hard in the villages because illegal miners “are gathering in remote areas of our state.”

    The Federal government banned all forms of mining in Zamfara State following sustained killings by bandits propelled by those believed to be illegal miners.

    The governor said: “The purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting is to sensitize the security stakeholders on the need to forestall possible influx of illegal miners and the attendant risks of kidnapping, killings, drug dealings, arms peddling and rape.

    “The overall objective is to better secure our state, make our minerals-rich communities peaceful, make mining commercially viable and deliver development to our people.

    “In a nation where securing our oil wealth has been a perennial challenge, ensuring that our state’s mineral wealth does not become a resource curse, is a task we must all embrace squarely.

    “It is in light of this that we regard the recent ban on mining activities in Zamfara States as a potential threat to mining activities in our State, which is blessed with mining deposits in commercial quantity.

    Read Also: Osun records hike in forestry revenue

    “We must not yield our state to bandits and aggressors. We must work together to secure our communities.

    “Our security agencies must unleash their intelligence capacity to crack the activities of bandits. Bad elements must be made to face the music to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “I appeal to our people to provide credible information to security agencies while the ‎traditional and religious leaders, security agents, government agencies and leaders should be above board.

    “There is a need to heavily fortify our minerals-rich communities to make them impregnable to external aggression and incursion”.

    Governor Oyetola told the gathering that his administration had given priority to welfare of the people and provision of security knowing them to be core components of the foundation for peace and development.

    The governor added: “It is in recognition of these axioms that our young administration kicked off with the provision of robust welfare programmes and collaboration with security agencies to secure the state and to keep it together in peace.

    “We have worked hard as an administration to further improve on agriculture in order to deliver food security just as we are tackling youth unemployment through our social protection programmes.

    “We shall further concretize the state’s security and peace architectures so that our reputation as people living in peace would be further sustained.

    “Apart from maintaining the extant peace, our core strategies entail adopting a proactive approach to nip security breach in the bud”.

    Commissioner of Police, Mrs Abiodun Ige; State Director Department of State Service (DSS), Mr Brown Ekwoaba; State Commander National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Samuel Egbeola ‎and Acting Comptroller Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Ibong Osato Aideyan, who attended the programme, advocated synergy among security agents and with residents to enhance security.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who led other major traditional rulers to the meeting, said traditional rulers have a greater ruler to prevent infiltration into their community by bandits and urged the state government to empower the rulers to be able to assist the government’s security efforts.

     

  • Air Force Special Forces neutralise bandits in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday said its Special Forces team in Zamfara state has neutralized two bandits in Rafi and Doka villages in Gusau local government area.

    Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the team responded to reports of the gathering of high profile bandits in the communities.

    Air Commodore Daramola said “In response to reports that high profile armed bandits were gathering around Rafi and Doka villages of Mada District in Gusau Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, which is under the Area of Responsibility (AOR) of the 207 Quick Response Group (207 QRG), a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Special Forces (SF) Team was dispatched to the area on Wednesday, 16 April 2019, to secure the 2 settlements and thwart the bandits’ plans.

    Read Also: No room for negotiation with bandits – Zamfara CP

    “Upon arrival at the location, the NAF SF Team encountered resistance in the form of heavy gunfire from the bandits.

    “However, the brave SF personnel employed superior tactics to outlast the bandits, who were soon low on ammunition, before engaging and overpowering them.

    “Two bandits were neutralized in the process while others fled with gunshot wounds.

    “Since then, the SF Team has been conducting aggressive patrols in the area, especially the fringes of the forest, to forestall any reprisal attack.

    “The NAF, along with sister Services and other security agencies, will sustain the operations to flush the bandits out of the Northwest of the Country.”