Bandits have launched fresh attacks in Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), killing a community leader and abducting some family members, Daily Trust reports.
In the first incident, the assailants on Wednesday night shot dead the Mai Anguwa of Gashe community, Mr Philibus Andrew, and abducted 13 family members in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State.
A resident, Musa Bala, told our reporter through telephone yesterday that the incident happened around 11pm, with the bandits wielding sophisticated weapons in their large numbers.
He explained that the bandits first attacked the community leader’s house and shot him dead before proceeding to a neighbour’s house and whisked away one Mr Abraham Dangana, his wife, eight children and three relatives, adding that the bandits also burgled shops and chemists.
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He said that the bandits also invaded neighbouring Badeko village on the same day and abducted 10 people.
A community leader, who preferred anonymity, said: “You can imagine that there are security operatives stationed at Bishini Junction, Katari and Nasarawa LEA Primary School, yet the bandits operated for hours without any response from them.”
The spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, SP Hassan Mansur, did not speak on the incident.
Kill 5, release 51 hostages after 3 weeks in captivity
The bandits who abducted 61 villagers from Budah village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State three weeks ago also killed five of the captives.
After receiving a ransom payment, along with drugs and motorcycles, the abductors reportedly released 51 other victims on Tuesday.
It was gathered that five victims are still being held by the bandits, with the demand for additional ransom delaying their release.
A local vigilante, who preferred to be anonymous, confirmed the release of the 51 individuals to Daily Trust yesterday, revealing that those killed were men.
He said the released captives, including children, endured significant suffering during their captivity, with some unable to walk upon their return because they were chained for weeks.
“It was terrible to witness their condition; they suffered greatly, particularly the men,” the vigilante said.
“Among those freed, two individuals sustained gunshot wounds on their legs, causing severe damage as they were not given medical treatment while being held captive.
“They have been taken to a hospital for treatment,” the vigilante added.
Maigari Ben, a youth leader in the area, also confirmed the release of the victims but lamented the loss of the five individuals who were killed while in captivity.
He expressed hope for an end to the ongoing banditry in the region and throughout the state.
There was no comment on this incident from the Kaduna State Police Command.
1 killed, 3 abducted in FCT
In a related development, gunmen in the early hours of yesterday raided houses in Faba village of Bwari Area Council of the FCT, killed one person and abducted three others.
A resident, who craved anonymity, said the corpse of the victim had been moved to his village for burial.
When our reporter visited the community yesterday, residents were seen discussing the incident in groups.
Our correspondent reports that the village, which is not far from Tokulo, the home town of the council’s Chairman, John Gabaya, is surrounded by some villages, including Zuma, which were previously attacked by kidnappers.
There was no response from the police on the incident, but a source hinted that the operatives had moved to the area, combing forests to rescue the victims.
10 top terrorist commanders killed in 3 months
The military high command yesterday released the full names of some top terrorist commanders who were killed in the northern region of the country during various operations across all theatres between January and March, 2024.
Among those killed by the troops attached to different operations included the Head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP), Abu Bilal Minuki popularly known as Abubakar Mainok, among his criminal gang members as well as Haruna Isiya Boderi.
Other top terrorist commanders neutralised by the troops included Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Kachallah Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu and Kachallah Damina.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, who revealed this at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, at a press briefing explained that Damina was neutralised alongside over 50 combatants.
Daily Trust reports that Boderi, a notorious terrorist who had operated along Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State, as well as the Abuja-Kaduna Highway, and kidnapped travellers for ransom, was killed by troops on Feb. 21, 2024.
“The armed forces are fighting a vicious enemy in the ongoing operations across the country. Nevertheless, the military is ready, prepared, equipped and focused on what to do with these terrorists and their cohorts.
“Surely, we have been collecting intelligence, hunting them and striking them where they may be hiding and hibernating. Our aim is to kill these terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them.
“Accordingly, we have employed significant firepower to neutralise several terrorists and disrupt their activities,” Buba, a Major-General, told journalists during the briefing.
The senior military officer explained that the feat was achieved through synchronised airstrikes, which both the ground and air troops carried out on terrorists’ enclaves.
He said, “For instance, immediately upon acquisition of vital targets, fighter jets are scrambled to carry out major bombarding raids on significant terrorist enclaves.
“Troops equally conducted ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and offensive against the terrorists. The attacks and offensive actions by troops during the period January-March 2024, resulted in 2,351 terrorists neutralised; 2,308 persons arrested and 1,241 kidnapped hostages rescued.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 2,847 weapons, 58,492 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N20 billion.
“Breakdown for the period includes and is not limited to the following: 1,497 AK47 rifles, 33,878 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 12,698 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 948 assorted arms and 5,520 assorted ammo.
“Others are 21,573,310 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,723,430 litres of illegally refined AGO, 53,300 litres of DPK and 52,730 litres of PMS amongst other items.
“The foregoing demonstrates that ongoing operations are effective and result-oriented. Accordingly, the military is raising the bar in the prosecution of the war. Consequently, citizens will continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces.”
Military must be proactive to end challenges- Experts
Speaking on what security operatives must do to ensure the North West region and other parts of the country are freed of terrorism, a security sector reform expert, Chukwuma Ume, said the military should move into the already liberated area and use non-kinetic approach to dissuade locals from joining the criminal gangs.
“Let me first say that we cannot entirely rule out the kinetic operation option from the fight against terrorism,” he said.
“What is obtainable in most parts of the world is the combination of both the stick and the carrot (both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches).
“The problem is that the kinetic approach doesn’t have a long-lasting impact. Anybody who wants to solve the problem must come from a structural perspective in foundation by using a non-kinetic approach.
“You need to ask yourself, what are the predisposed factors to terrorism or militancy? Those problems can be solved without firing a bullet. Exclusion, social inequality, poverty, unemployment, and even misconduct from law enforcement officers are some of the factors responsible. We still have so many other factors responsible”, he said.
Ume, who described the killing of kingpins as a temporary success, urged the military to maintain their presence in the areas cleared by troops in order not to give space for the terrorists to dominate again.
“Why don’t we begin to raise the redistribution of wealth? Why don’t we open more doors in the decision-making process of the country for economic self-reliance, healthcare services, education, and so on? These are much more holistic approaches to solve these problems than kinetic approaches.
“Like I said, the non-kinetic approach cannot be entirely relied on because some people are incorrigible. Incorrigible in the sense that they are not willing to take these opportunities even if they are provided,” he said.
In the same vein, an intelligence and terrorism expert, Kabiru Adamu, urged the military to work in collaboration with the police so as to block the source of weapons and life to the criminals.
He said, “Taking out the leadership of any criminal group like that as a strategy, it must be done in conjunction with other security agencies, particularly the police, by making sure their source of weapons or life is blocked.”
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