Although the condition of the road is not totally bad and there is presence of security personnel including soldiers, the 50km distance from Sheme-Tsafe, has become a death-trap for travellers in recent days.
For commercial drivers plying this road, Israel is not only referred to as the country in the Middle East, they see the 50km distance from Sheme-Tsafe towns as Israel as well.
The distance got this nickname due to the persistent attacks along the route. Weekend Trust gathered that many travellers have been attacked and abducted by bandits along this portion of the road.
Also, all the communities situated within this 50km distance have witnessed series of banditry attacks and several residents of the area have been kidnapped at one point or another.
The 50km distance covers the villages and towns in Katsina and Zamfara states respectively. These include: Sheme, Kanfanin Mai-Lafiya, Unguwar Boka, Yankara in Katsina State and Danwuri, Wanzamai, Kucheri, Unguwar-Chida, Magazu, Gidan-Giye and Tsafe in Zamfara State.
Weekend Trust findings revealed that the bandits defy the security measures put in place along the road to unleash terror on travellers and the communities.
Recently, the bandits carried out series of operations on this portion of the road. They either attacked moving vehicles or blocked the road and abducted travellers. Weekend Trust observed that between July and September, the bandits have consistently carried out attacks along that portion of the road.
Our correspondent gathered that the bandits attack travellers, construction workers and members of the communities during the day and at night.
The most affected by such attacks are: Kamfanin-Mailafiya, Yankara, Magazu, Wanzamai and Kucheri villages.
Although additional military check-points were provided between Kamfanin-Mailafiya and Tsafe, bandits still carry out their heinous activities around Kucheri, Gidan-Giye and Kanye villages virtually on a daily basis.
Weekend Trust gathered that every week, that portion of the road records one or more banditry attacks. In fact it was learnt that sometimes the criminals operate twice in a day.
One incident that attracted public attention occurred on Sunday, August 11, 2024, when armed bandits attacked two vehicles in Kucheri village and abducted unspecified number of passengers. They ambushed the vehicles at a damaged spot and opened fire on them.
The following day, August 12, 2024, the bandits, in two separate operations, attacked travellers in Magazu village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing two drivers and abducting many passengers.
During the first attack, the bandits blocked the busy highway around 5:15pm, opened fire on four moving vehicles, thereby killing a truck driver and abducting many passengers.
On the same day, the bandits returned to the same spot around 6:30pm and attacked a commercial car (Volkswagen Gulf) and abducted all the passengers onboard.
The first attack, our correspondent gathered involved three commercial cars and a truck. The truck driver was shot in the head and he died on the spot.
Weekend Trust gathered that the bandits were taking advantage of a damaged portion of the road in Kucheri village to attack travellers. It was gathered that drivers have to slow down whenever they arrive at that spot due to its bad condition, hence, the bandits made the area their point of attack.
Another attack which also attracted public attention occurred on the 12th September, 2024, when bandits riding motorbikes attacked some construction workers in Yandoton-Tsafe, Tsafe Local Government Area, killing seven people mostly security personnel escorting foreign engineers.
The incident occurred around 9am shortly after the workers handling the ongoing dualisation of the Gusau-Sokoto road resumed duty. The attack was the second incident on that day.
The first attack occurred in Kucheri village, still in Tsafe Local Government Area, when a gang of bandits blocked the busy Funtua-Gusau highway and abducted several travellers.
Locals told Weekend Trust that the two separate operations were believed to have been orchestrated by a notorious bandits’ leader, Dan Yusuf, younger brother to the bandit kingpin, Ado Alliero.
A resident of Kucheri, Yunusa Isa (not real name) said the bandits arrived at the area on motorbikes, adding, “they kept their motorbikes inside a bush not far from the scene of the incident and ambushed some vehicles at a damaged portion of the road just a few meters away from Kucheri village.
“Drivers have to always slow down anytime they arrive at this portion of the road because of its condition. So, the bandits took advantage of this and attacked the vehicles and abducted many passengers.”
Also, a resident of Tsafe, Ibrahim Umar, said the second attack was launched on some construction workers at Yandoton Tsafe, killing about seven people, including three military escorts.
“The soldiers protecting the workers repelled the attack, but about seven people including the soldiers were killed during the encounter,” he said.
Muhammad Abdullahi, a commercial driver, who uses the Funtua-Gusau road frequently, told Weekend Trust that, “whenever we set out for Gusau from Kano or vice versa, our loved ones pray for us and anytime I pass that dangerous place, I notify them so that they can be at peace.
“Israel is our major problem on this road. The place has turned into a death trap for travelers. Hardly a week will pass without hearing about banditry attack in that area. The bandits operate at will and at any hour”.
Another commercial driver, Yusuf Ibrahim said, “I wonder why banditry persist at this particular portion of the road despite the presence of heavily armed security personnel.
“We have a military base at Kwanar Sheme, a military Super Camp at Yankara village and some military check-points in between, yet the bandits are unleashing terror on travelers. Whenever a driver enters this zone, both he and the passengers will start praying to seek divine protection until they pass the area.”
Malam Sani Musa Tsafe, a commercial driver, who escaped bandits’ attacks, said: “I escaped bandits attack within Israel on three occasions. The first was at Yankara village. I was travelling in the night when suddenly, the driver made a U-turn. He informed us that bandits were operating at Kamfanin-Mailafiya. We waited at Sheme until the operation was over.
“The second and third incidents also occurred at the same Kamfanin Mia-Lafiya. I ran into a road-block erected by the bandits. My car’s engine stopped, therefore, we abandoned the vehicle and ran into the bush. Again, at the same spot, while travelling around 1am, three men flashed touch-lights towards my direction and because I knew there was no security check-point in the village, I made a U-turn.
Other major roads where bandits are unleashing terror on travellers in Zamfara State are: Mayanchi-Anka, Magami-Dangulbi, Danbaza-Maradun road and Maru-Dansadau.
When contacted, the Director General of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, General Lawal B. Muhammad (rtd) expressed concern over increasing banditry attacks along the Funtua-Gusau road.
He said: “We are doing our best at our own level but from the security point of view it is unwise for me to reveal our plans on the ongoing fight against banditry. We have to keep our plans secret because you should not expose your plans to your opponents.
“But one thing is for sure; we are doing our best to tackle the situation. We are working closely with the military and we are recording success. I am appealing to the general public to continue to support the Zamfara State government in the fight against banditry.”
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