Bandits on rampage in Sokoto

There were reported attacks by bandits on many communities in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State last Wednesday.

According to our findings, the bandits attacked Shinaka, Kwakwazo, Taloka, Tuluske and Keta villages.

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Daily Trust learnt that three persons were shot at Shinaka by the bandits and one of them, believed to be a Nigerien national rearing animal in the area, died instantly while the remaining two are recuperating in the hospital.

The immediate past Sole Administrator of Goronyo local government area, Zakari Muhammad Shinaka, said the bandits rustled several livestock.

Daily Trust learnt that that same night, the bandits attacked the other villages and many residents of Kwakwazo village were abducted for ransom.

It was further learnt that the bandits infiltrated the house of a former state lawmaker and now chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdulwahab Yahaya, in Goronyo town the following day, shot him on the leg and abducted three of his daughters.

Our reporter who visited Saraki Hospital where the aspirant was said to be hospitalized, was told that he had been taken to a private clinic in Abuja on Thursday and all efforts to reach him on phone proved abortive as his line was switched off.

It would be recalled that the member representing Gwadabawa/Illela federal constituency, Abdullahi Salame, had escaped an attack last week by gunmen suspected to be hired assassins.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Salame said the attackers were 20 in number and came with all sorts of weapons.

“They broke down my gate, beat and tied up my security guards and asked one of them to lead them to my room.

“My wife woke me up when she heard movement of people in our compound and when I peeped through the door, I saw them at the entrance of my sitting room.

“I then brought out my gun and we started exchanging fire. In the process, I shot one of them but they took him along with them, leaving some of their belongings, including stained clothes and the victim’s fez cap,” he said.

Salame, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he has been anticipating such thing because of their new political move.

“Some people see me as a stumbling block to their political ambition and will do everything possible to do away with me,” he alleged. According to him, the attackers did not kill anybody in the house.

It was learnt that bandits also abducted a cashier with the state Water Board, Muhammad Magaji Dingyadi, who is also the Wazirin Dingyadi at his hometown Runjin Jatau in Bodinga Local Government Area on Wednesday. But he was released after payment of ransom.

However, the district head of Unguwan Lalle, in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Mainasara Salihu, said over 2000 livestock were lost to bandits who attacked 22 communities in his district.

According to him, the bandits sacked three of the communities. He noted that the district was under-policed and the few policemen deployed were not fully equipped.

Salihu, who was speaking at the stakeholders meeting convened by the new Sokoto State Police Commissioner, noted that “At times we have to call policemen from neighbouring Niger Republic who are better equipped for support when any of our communities is attack,” he said.

He added that “our security agencies need fund and operational vehicles to succeed in their assignment.”

Similarly, the district head of Gatawa, Mustapha Balarabe, said there were only four policemen in the district which he said was the most hit by bandits in the local government area.

The former chairman of Sabon Birni, Idris Muhammad Danchadi, stated that though security operatives were doing their best but more needs to be done to curtail the activities of the bandits.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday on phone, the Commissioner, Careers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd), said that Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had convened an emergency security meeting during which a committee was set up to look into the prevailing security situation and recommend ways of tackling them.

“Insha Allah, all these attacks will soon be a thing of the past as the governor is ready to do everything to maintain peace in the state,” he said.

He stated that the bandits have returned all the livestock rustled and talks were ongoing for the release of those who were abducted.

On the attacks on politicians, he said they were political but did not mention who was behind the attacks.

He explained that the renewed attacks were launched by a new crop of bandits who were not part of the last negotiation and did not support it.