Angered by the recent spike in insecurity in Sokoto, especially with the Wednesday attack leaving at least 70 people dead, a coalition of Concerned Sokoto Citizens has called for urgent intervention, lamenting that from January, more than 270 lives have been lost in 20 deadly attacks.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition, Professor Nasiru Gatawa said they were under siege and the government must take decisive action.
According to him, “We have eight local governments in the eastern zone, which include Gada, Goronyo, Gwadabawa, Illeila, Isa, Rabbah, Sabon Birni and Wurno local government areas.
READ: Nigerien, not Nigerian soldiers fighting bandits in Sokoto — Senator Gobir
“The most terrorised local government in the zone is Sabon Birni where bandits operate freely and in a broad daylight for several hours and in many cases no help from the government.
“Each of these local governments has part of it under the control of bandits whose heinous activities have crippled social and economic activities which have led to the loss of hundreds of lives and properties running into billions of naira in the zone,” he said.
While lamenting the latest onslaught, the professor said, “Each of the eleven wards in Sabon Birni Local Government has parts of it under the total control of bandits whose permission and consent the villagers need to conduct wedding or naming ceremonies or even have a market day.
“As we speak today (Thursday), even the local government headquarters of the 8 local governments in the eastern zone of Sokoto State are in total fear.
READ: Insecurity: Over 500 people killed in 10 states in 3 months
“The situation is getting so serious that even Sokoto metropolis cannot boast of being safe from the attacks of bandits because the activities of these bandits are gradually expanding to villages a few kilometres to Sokoto city,” he said.
Prof Gatawa recalled that on the eve of Eid-el- Fitr, suspected bandits attacked and killed a prominent businessman in Ummaruma village, a stone throw away from Sokoto city.
Bandits now resolving quarrels between husbands and wifes
A few days ago, the representative of Sokoto East in the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Gobir claimed that some parts of his constituency were under the control of bandits.
He alleged that bandits had sacked traditional and political institutions, saying in some instances, locals relied on Nigerien security agencies.
The legislator said, “Our biggest problem now is that the bandits have taken over many villages and are having a field day.
“They have constituted themselves as judges. They have sacked the traditional and political institutions there, so there are no judges at all.
“The bandits now settle disputes between people. They resolve quarrels between husband and wife and so on.”
70 lives lost in Wednesday attacks
Residents of some communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto state on Thursday recounted how bandits killed more than 70 inhabitants.
The attack was launched around 5pm Wednesday but details only reached the state capital in the early hours of yesterday.
The latest attacks in Sokoto are continuation of relentless onslaught on innocent citizens in the states in parts of the north western parts of Nigeria.
The affected villages include Garki, Dan Aduwa, Kuzari, Katuma and Masawa.
Besides the over 70 people killed, dozens of other sustained injuries while properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed. Locals said economic activities have been crippled as the attackers whose real motive remains elusive continued to kill and maim.
During the Wednesday siege, locals said the bandits rode on over 150 motorcycles each carrying at least two assailants with some of them carrying AK47.
“These people did not take anything…They just came and started shooting people,” one of the residents, Muhammad Rabiu Abubakar, lamented.
“Look at the casualty, as I am talking to you, we are seeing dead bodies, more than 74,” he said.
Some residents of Sabon Birni, the local government headquarters said they heard the gunshots from their ends.
The attack on Wednesday followed an earlier one on Sunday, which prompted Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to visit the local government area.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed security operatives to go to Sokoto and restore order.
How the latest offensive was launched
It was gathered that Wednesday’s attack commenced at Garki village.
“They surrounded the village before moving in and started shooting, killing people at sight,” one of the locals said.
A former local government chairman in the area, Idris Mohammed, noted that the bandits had been terrorising villages across the local government for quite some time now.
“The recent one in Garki is no different,” he said, and expressed concern that there was no security presence at the time of the attack at Garki village which is 2km from Sabon Birni.
Salisu Gobir, a farmer, said that the attackers were bandits who carried out a series of attacks in Gangara, ‘Yar Bulutu and Garin Bature villages, all around Sabon Birni.
Many of the residents said that the bandits might have ‘migrated’ to Sokoto from Katsina and Zamfara where there are many security operatives carrying out special operation.
“The federal government ought to spread security personnel all over the affected areas,” Abubakar said.
“Government is tackling the problem piecemeal and this will never work, from Katsina and Zamfara, then Kaduna depending on the exigency of the moment.
“We are sharing borders with some of these states yet the government is not giving us the desired attention.
“So, the bandits leave those places- Zamfara and Katsina because they are facing a lot of attacks.
“They know that our side is open, there is no security here, so they move from that side, they take revenge because their people were killed in other states,” he said.
Buhari orders military operation
President Buhari has directed a fierce military operation to “totally crush” those he called “mass murderers” terrorising people in Sokoto State.
The president gave the directive in a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu.
“As the world and Nigeria battle coronavirus pandemic, it is tragic and unfortunate that bandits have remained active in parts of the country, killing innocent people and throwing families into despair.
“We will not abandon you to your fate because we are determined to bring these mass murderers to their knees and crush them totally,” the president said.
He said that a major military operation code-named “Operation Accord” was launched by the military, targeting the bandits that had been tormenting North-West and North Central states.
“This operation will be a full time and sustained military offensive that is intended to deny the bandits any breathing space to reorganise and regroup,” he added.
He reassured Nigerians that the government was determined to protect them against “remorseless psychopathic mass killers who have no regard for the sanctity of life.’’
Buhari, who commiserated with families who lost loved ones in the latest attack by bandits in Sabon Birni LGA, prayed for the quick recovery of those that sustained injuries.
Tambuwal baffled over attacks
Governor Tambuwal, who paid a visit to the affected local government on Thursday on a condolence visit expressed shock over what happened, saying he is scheduled to meet President Buhari.
“As we speak, between yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday), I had contact with the presidency and I have secured an invitation to meet with Mr. President anytime soon,” he said.
“God willing I will be meeting with him to discuss the issues of banditry and insecurity, particularly as they affect the south-eastern part of our state in order to ensure that all that is required in terms of men and resources are mobilised promptly to halt this problem.
“When this incident was occurring, I spoke with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8th Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto as well as the Garrison Commander and other security chiefs.
“They informed me that the troops on ground in the area were stationed at unmotorable, undulating terrain of Burqusuma axis, which is about an hour’s journey away from where the attack was going on.
“However, the troops were quickly redeployed to the attack area to defend the people.
“Before their arrival, some things had happened.
“Nonetheless, they chased the bandits, who as they fled continued to wreak havoc on hapless communities,” he said.
Tambuwal prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed and cautioned the people of the area, especially the vigilante groups not to take laws into their hands no matter the gravity of the situation.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, described the attacks as worrisome and urged the people to be more prayerful and asked Allah for protection against all kinds of evil.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Government has also directed Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to visit the areas affected by the attack and make provision for relief to those affected.
