Zamfara G o v e r n m e n t has implored indigenes of the state to be ready to defend themselves against terrorists.
A Ministry of Information special announcement signed by the commissioner, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, said: “Following increase in the activities of bandits in various parts of the state and the government commitment to ensure adequate security and protection of lives and property of the citizenry in the state, particularly during this rainy season, government has resolved to take further measures to deal with the recent escalating attacks, kidnapping and the criminal levies being enforced on our innocent communities.
“This act of terrorism has been a source of worry and concern to the people and government of the state. Therefore, in order to deal decisively with the situation in our respective communities, government has no option than to take the following measures: “
A. Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves. Government is ready to facilitate people, especially our farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves. Government has already concluded arrangement to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 Emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.
“B. People must apply from the Commissioner of Police, license to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves.
“ C. A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.
“D. people are strictly warned and advised to make sure that any information or intelligence about an informant must be true and nothing but the truth, as all information on such informants must carry correct data on the suspects, including their pictures, correct names, address, occupation and witness to testify the genuity of the information given, as government is taking punitive measures against any one found as informant.
Any person who give wrong information against anybody, will be served the same punishment with an informant and will be treated as such.
“E. Government has requested the state House of Assembly to pass, as matter of urgency, the informants bill before it, to enable government take the drastic measures on informants as contained in the bill.
“ F. Government has ordered for the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards in each of the 19 emirates of the state, making it 500 per emirate, to increase their manpower and strengthen its force and capacity to deal with the bandits. To further ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of these measures, as well the proper implementation of these measures, government has also decided as follows:
“1. Formation of a special committee to receive intelligence on the activities of informants. “ This committee has the following composition:
1. Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe Sardau( Lamidon Kaura) – SSG as Chairman
2. Alh Ibrahim Sulaiman – Chief of Staff to the Governor – Member
3. D I G Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe – Commissioner Security – Member
4. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara – Commissioner Information – Member
5. Hon Nasiru Masama – Commissioner Youth – Member
6. Sani Abdullahi Wamban Shinkafi – Honorary Adviser to the Gov – Member
7. Hon Abubakar Mohammed Dauran – Specie Adviser Security – Member
8. Hon Sanusi Wanzammai – Commissioner, State INEC – Member
9. Captain Mai Riga T/ Mafara – Member
10. Sani Gwamna Mayanchi – Member
11. Bello Bakyasuwa Soja to serve as the secretary to the committee and their terms of reference will be given to them by the office of the SSG on Monday.
12. Formation of additional paramilitary unit to support control and command to properly and effectively reinforce the operations of our community protection guards CPG. This newly established unit has the following structures and appointments:
1. Retired Commissioner of Police Mamman Anka as Commandant – General
2. Capt Aminu Mada rtd – Deputy Commandant General Operations
3. Sulaiman Lawali Zurmi – Commandant Operations
4. Bashir Nafiu Gusau – Commandant Mobilization.
5. Alh Aliyu Na’ibi Karakkai – Commandant Surveillance and Intelligence. Other members of the control and command centre of the Community Protection Guards are.
6. Shi’itu Makera T/ Mafara
7. Bello Dankurmi
8. Dogo Na Bukkuyum 3. Re – constituting the state committee on prosecution of banditry related offences. Government has also reconstituted the state committee on prosecution of bandits related offences as follows:
1. Dr Sani Abdullahi Wanban Shinkafi as Chairman
2. Ibrahim Sulaiman – Chief of Staff to the Governor – Member
3. Rtd Justice Nasiru Umar Gummi – Member
4. CP Mamman Anka rtd – Member
5. Engr Mamuda Aliyu Maradun – Member
6. Rep of the Nigerian Army – Member
7. Rep of the Nigeria Police – Member
8. Rep of the DSS – Member
9. Rep of the Civil Defence Corps – Member
10. Rep of Hunters – Member, while
11. Barr Aminu Junaidu Kaura – Hon Attorney General and Commissioner for justice – Secretary to the committee.”
The statement added:” Furthermore, in view of the deteriorating security situation in Mada, Wonaka, and Ruwan Bore Districts of Gusau local government, as well as Yansoto emirate in Tsafe local government, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Matawalle MON, Barden Hausa and Shatiman Sokoto, has approved the immediate closure of all.markets and Kara in these districts and Yandoto emirate indefinitely.
“In addition this, government has equally banned riding of motorbikes and selling of petroleum products in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts, as well as Yandoto emirate. Henceforth, all filling stations on the affected areas are hereby closed with immediate effect.
Anybody found riding motorbike within the areas is considered as bandits and security agencies are thereby directed to shoot such persons at sight. Security agencies are by this announcement directed to ensure strict compliance. “Anybody found violating this order should be dealt with according to the rule of law. Government would not condone any act where innocent people are being killed.
Government is also using this medium to thank all those who honoured and respect the peace dialogue in what ever form.
In the same vein, those who refused to honour and respect the peace dialogue are here by warned to allow peace within our respective communities.
“Government is hereby directing the military, police, civil defence and other security agencies to mobilise their operatives and take fight to the enclaves of the criminals with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, Governor Bala Mohammed at the weekend tasked security agencies to evolve proactive security strategy to protect rural communities against the activities of bandits and kidnappers in Bauchi State.
The governor gave the charge during a condolence visit to Sabon Gari Narabi community in Toro Local Government Area of the state where a five-year-old girl, Khadija Abdullahi was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by her neighbour.
He urged the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Umar Sanda to reshuffle Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) across the 20 local government areas for more effective response to issues of banditry and kidnapping.
Mohammed, who lauded the police and other security operatives for their dedication to duties, stressed the need for concerted effort in deployment of more personnel to areas considered to be the hideout of criminals.
He said the government was concerned about the safety of the citizens by providing all the needed support to secure towns and villages.
“We are here to also commiserate with the people of Toro over incessant activities of bandits where about eight incidents happened in Narabi community. It is becoming unacceptable.
“The person who perpetrated this mayhem has been arrested and he is facing the law. We are going to follow the case with keen interest. “Our community leaders should be more vigilant because compromises are everywhere. We have people coming into Toro and Alkaleri because of the size of the LGAs and the terrains.
“We are going to make sure we put our eyes and legs on the ground. We are going to listen and our contacts are with you, so please, collaborate with us. “Nobody will give you security unless you give yourselves.
You should be bold and not be afraid. “We are not a set of cowards. As the Kauran Bauchi, as the commander of the chivalry in all the emirates, I am ready to lead you. “So please, whatever you have in store, bring it out. We have to face these hoodlums, criminals and charlatans and we have to deal with them,” he said.
On his part, Sanda confirmed the arrest of some of the perpetrators including the alleged murderer of the girl, Khadija Abdullahi, The Trumpet gathered.
He said the police were working round the clock to protect lives and property, and urged the people to provide them with credible information that would lead to arrest and prosecution of criminals in the state.
Also at the weekend, a vigilance group commander, Mallam Danladi Dobbo, and two others were killed in Kpade community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State in a renewed onslaught by gunmen.
Several villagers were also injured in the attack, while the gunmen who stormed a farm in the community abducted an unspecified number of locals. Sources close to the community said the incident occurred on Friday around 3:30pm when the people were busy in their farms.
A tractor belonging to the farmers was set ablaze by the rampaging gunmen who came in large numbers. According to a source, gunmen ambushed the vigilance commander and his men who had gone into the forest to rescue the abducted victims; they killed him and two others.
The bodies of those killed were yet to be recovered by the villagers, who appealed to the state government to deploy security agents to the area to help recover them.
The recent attack was coming barely three weeks after gunmen killed a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Lapai division, and a vigilante in a similar circumstance, though there was no official statement from the state police command to that effect.
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It was reliably gathered that three different helicopters were in the last one month seen hovering over Kpada community, which shares border with FCT and Kogi State before the attack on Friday.
Attempt to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun was not successful as of the time of filing in the report as his mobile phone was switched off.
However, the Commissioner for Internal Security in the state, Mr. Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the attack, but appealed to the affected community to remain calm, as the government had mobilised security agents to the area to recover the bodies of the victims and rescue those abducted.
