Banditry: Katsina communities lament attacks, say gov’t has abandoned them

For a long time, Katsina State has been under attacks by armed bandits, especially in eight local government areas – Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, Safana, Kankara, Sabuwa, Faskari and Dandume, which border the dreaded Rugu forest, which is known as hideout for criminals. With time, more local governments, such as Dutsinma, Kurfi, Batagarawa, Kaita, Kafur and […]

For a long time, Katsina State has been under attacks by armed bandits, especially in eight local government areas – Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, Safana, Kankara, Sabuwa, Faskari and Dandume, which border the dreaded Rugu forest, which is known as hideout for criminals.

With time, more local governments, such as Dutsinma, Kurfi, Batagarawa, Kaita, Kafur and Malumfashi joined the list as they recorded attacks that led to loss of lives and property.

In the state, people are killed, maimed and kidnapped, with women and children molested. As a result of these, many communities are forced to relocate to other places perceived to be relatively safe.

On a daily basis, people cry for help and count their losses, but the needed help does not come their way. Before now, only locals cried out, but recently, there seemed to be a general outcry as authorities in the state and politicians put politics aside and raised their voices against the situation.

Last week, the state House of Assembly held a special session, where each member, especially those from most of the affected areas, took turns to berate the government and security agencies for not doing enough on the issue of insecurity in the state.

Some concerned people in the state spoke on the situation.

Mustapha Yusuf from Jibia said, “For his inability to address the teething security challenges in Katsina, “President Muhammadu Buhari has failed us here.

“My people prefer to reach out to Nigerien security agents to come to our aid instead of those in Nigeria. They respond quickly and better. It is shameful that our neighbours are coming to help us better than our own people. This is demeaning and belittling to us as a country.

“We are being killed every day. And these bandits are known, including their houses, where they sleep and everything about them. How can someone carry AK 47 in a village?’’

Also, AbdulJalal Runka (Safana) said, “We are yet to feel the impact of presidential directives to security agents to deal with the bandits terrorising our area. Banditry has continued in an alarming proportion despite the directives,’’ he said, and urged President Buhari to look into the matter.

He pleaded that the lockdown be eased in the area to enable the people sell the remaining animals to at least have something to eat instead of losing them to the bandits.

Ibrahim Machika (Sabuwa) said if the present security agents could not address the security challenges in the state, they should be replaced. According to him, alternatively, government should allow locals to protect themselves.

For Maiwada Danmalam, “It is high time the Chief of Army Staff General Yusuf Buratai relocated to Katsina to address the lingering security challenge bedevilling the state. On a daily basis, people are being killed senselessly. A large part of the state is now a human abattoir of sorts.

“People are dying without knowing why, and it is obvious the government has overstretched its limits and citizens are more or less left to their fate.’’

He said that out of desperation and limited options, the state government experimented with peace overtures, which have obviously failed to yield the needed result.

“It could even be said that the experiment emboldened these criminals, who believe the state government was forced to take such action by their superior firepower. In any case, the option is unsustainable as government lacks the resources to always appease lawless bandits, even if one decides to ignore the wrong signal  negotiating peace with bandits would send to the public.’’

Al-Amin Batsari also said, “Bandits are taking over the control of Batsari Local Government Area. They have killed more people than COVID-19 in Nigeria. They are as powerful as security agents. They move freely and have taken control of almost everything. What offence have we committed to deserve this neglect? For over 20 days, no day would pass without raid, killing, rustling, raping, kidnapping and maiming of our innocent citizens.

“Despite fasting, lack of food and excruciating heat, our people are forced to trek hundreds of kilometers day and night to save themselves from this situation. Today, more than half of Batsari Local Government Area is under a comfortable control of bandits. It is becoming worse every day, to the level that nobody will sleep a night in Batsari with the assurance that he will survive to see the next morning.’’

Furthermore, Comrade Mohammad Nagaske said government had concentrated on COVID-9 and allowed bandits to operate in the state freely. “The sad part of it is that attention is not paid to it. We seem to concentrate on the mighty COVID-19 and forget to address the fear, hunger and brutality that are killing people in large numbers,’’ he said.

Already, some internally displaced persons from Batsari have relocated to Katsina metropolis. Some of them who spoke to Daily Trust Saturday said life was unbearable as they were forced to leave their communities.

Bashir Garba said, “I was forced to leave my village. I am here with my wife and two kids. I fled after an invasion of our village near Batsari. They attacked us on motorcycles, with guns.

“Government is not doing enough for us in this situation. More than 30 villages were attacked. Many have fled to Katsina and some to Niger Republic.’’

Another villager, Halima Hassan, also said, “During the attack I was running along with other women, with nowhere in mind and no food for us. We managed to arrive in Katsina town and took refuge at Badamasi. This lockdown is also not allowing us to go out to fend for ourselves. We are living on the mercies of residents here.

“We want to return to our farms. Government should please do something to restore peace so that we can return home.’’

Another woman who simply identified herself as Mairo said, “We are being attacked ever day. From village to village we heard gunshots every now and then until it came to ours.  I fear for my life; hence I moved out to seek refuge. I don’t know when I would return home.’’

Abdullahi Adamu, who was attacked at Gurbi village in Jibia said, “We were travelling along the road; immediately after Gurbi village, at a place called Tafkin Giwa, we heard gunshots fired at us. Subsequently, a car loaded with groundnut and heading to Jibia collided with ours. Please help us, these people are killing us daily.’’

Another survivor of one of the attacks, Kamala Abdulsamad said, “I have been unconscious since the attack occurred. I have been bedridden since then. What I can vividly remember were the cries and shouts as the car caught fire. I can’t recall any other thing.

“I was later told that only three of us survived when we were taken to a hospital. Others died. Only two of us are now alive.

“I have two fractures on my leg and severe burns. For over 24 days since the incident, I have hardly moved. I was made to understand that my father didn’t make it. He died at the spot.’’

Speaking when Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Defence headquarters, paid him a visit, Governor Aminu Bello Masari said, “I am in a very confused situation. I have limitation of resources and authority. I believe that if the brigade and the division are empowered with materials and logistics, we will see the end of this.

“It is said that a stitch in time saves nine. The situation in the North-West is becoming worrisome, I am disturbed. The unfortunate situation of this coronavirus pandemic is what is keeping the information, if not, the number of killings would have gotten everywhere. We live under daily threats.

“I will take the risk of saying that these people are worse than animals because they lack any form of education. They don’t behave as Muslims. They have refused to allow government correct what is wrong.

“You can’t blame this government, or even the previous one. This forest has been abandoned for a very long time. For us to correct what is wrong, there has to be peace. Our dialogue with them is working in some places, but not in most places.

“We need a complete cleanup operation. Unless the complete structure of banditry is destroyed, you can never have peace. Their structures, headquarters and modus operandi are known. They act like gangs of worm. They converge and attack in numbers. I am a very angry person because people look up to the governor to protect their lives property, honour and dignity, but I am sorry to say we are failing in that; and it is unfortunate.’’