Southern Kano, a haven of dare-devil kidnappers

Kidnapping in the northern part of the country is the bride of the day, as no week will pass with no incident of abduction of high profile persons especially roads leading to Abuja from northern part of the country. The attention of the security forces is highly needed to arrest the situation even as cattle […]

Kidnapping in the northern part of the country is the bride of the day, as no week will pass with no incident of abduction of high profile persons especially roads leading to Abuja from northern part of the country.
The attention of the security forces is highly needed to arrest the situation even as cattle rustling in some parts of Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Kebbi states have reached alarming proportion.
This menace is becoming rampant even in erstwhile calm states like Kano and Sokoto. In Kano cases of restiveness, abduction and other security challenges are gradually piling up particularly in the south senatorial zone.
It is pertinent to note that Kano south is the largest senatorial district in Nigeria, in terms of population, land mass and the number of local government areas. The people in the zone are predominantly farmers and cattle breeders.
The issue of insecurity in Kano South with emphasis on Doguwa and Tudun Wada local government areas can be traced back to 20 years ago when armed robbers disturbed the inhabitants of the region including travelers and the resident of the areas close to Falgore forest. It necessitated the then government of General Sani Abacha to deploy security forces both military and mobile police officers which eventually curtailed the menace. The return of democracy in 1999 when military forces were withdrawn leaving the highways to the police patrol teams saw the return of the robbers. Yet again, the President Obasanjo-led government deployed additional mobile police units which mounted various check points mostly in Falgore forest. However, the re-appearance of armed robbers in the area has become acute by every passing day.
As a result of frequent attacks and brutal killings so many influential people have relocated to other places for fear of assassination and menace of armed robbers. From January 2016 cases of kidnapping has become order of the day, the mother of a state assembly member from Doguwa local government was abducted and the report was carried by Daily Trust and Blueprints Newspapers.
Within a week eleven persons were killed in dare-devil manner, forcing residents of some villagers like Gulbai, Danaijawa Miyatti, Bakin Randa, Bakin Rafin Kaɗanya, Faruruwa, Gazobin, Nata’ala, Jangefe, Unguwar Lemo, Tudun Fulani Majiyaya, Unguwar Kanbu, Rumawa, Salahawa and Yardoka to fled their villages. They abandoned their farms and businesses and sought refuge at Burji town. They are now perching at Burji primary and secondary schools, and some other public buildings in the town.
It is indeed sad and disheartening as federal lawmakers like Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who is the Chief Whip in the House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly, who was among the victims, did not raise the issue to the relevant authorities for proper action so that people of the said area can continue with their normal activities.
Alhassan A. Bala, Abuja