Reign of terror: Bandits hold northerners by jugular, spread deaths, traumatise women

28th October 2023

Reign of terror: Bandits hold northerners by jugular, spread deaths, traumatise women
28th October 2023

By
Animashaun Salman

Animasahun Salman examines the menace of banditry in the North and how it has left behind tales of woes often left behind by the criminals

“I was there when my father was killed by bandits and I will avenge his death,” were the words of Umar Mohammed, when reacting to the killing of his father by bandits in their Magami Village in Katsina State.

“My father was killed in my presence,” he said further, with a note of grief. “It is by the miracle of God that I’m alive today. I would have been killed. I was very close to our grinding machine at home. My father was trying to collect some vegetables when I heard the sound of the gunshot.”

Visibly hurt by the incident, he lamented further, “Yes, I know those who killed him. They said if they caught me, they would kill me, so I decided to run away, and my mum didn’t know where I ran to.”


In an interview that has since gone viral, Umar narrated how he ran to another community in the heat of the attack. He said when he reached Dandabi, he was with his brother and when he heard gunshots, he ran away, praying for God’s intervention.

Despite the fate that had befallen him, Umar’s dream of being educated remains intact. “I want to enroll in school to stop my mother from going into the forest,” he stated. “I want her to remain at home and even if she stops going to the forest, she has to look for what we will eat.”

Umar’s experience aptly captures several of such incidents in the country, especially in the northern region.
Many residents lamented that insecurity in the region had yet to abate despite the changes in the military and security apparatus. To date, women, children and even men are being killed, kidnapped, attacked and displaced by the bandits turned terrorists, while farmers have been chased from their farmland, stirring the possibility of poverty and hunger. And apart from the attacks, it has been argued that it is equally inhibiting the development of the country.

Not only the poor and middle income earners have been victims of the banditry, some political leaders, including state and national lawmakers, have also been unable to visit their constituencies.

A lawmaker at the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Saidu Ibrahim, representing Sabon Birni South, a few months ago lamented in a telephone interview with The PUNCH that bandits were in control of his constituency and that he had been unable to visit.

“No district head or village head, not to talk of a ward head, can say anything against the bandits. This is the true picture of the situation,” he stated. “Even when there are issues to be settled, no formal setting can intervene because everyone is afraid of the bandits.
“In most of the villages under Isa and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas, I swear to you, they are all under bandits’ control. Bandits are in charge. They have occupied the whole place.”

A few weeks ago, suspected Boko Haram terrorists ambushed vehicles of security agents who were escorting motorists on the Gwoza–Limankara–Uvaha Road, killing a soldier on the spot. Also, a patrol van was set ablaze while five commercial vehicles were also burnt down with the passengers inside roasted, even as a dozen bodies were unaccounted for.

Sources revealed that the incident happened around 5 pm when the soldiers and civilian JTF members were providing cover to passengers travelling to Gwoza, Askira-Uba LGA in Borno State and some parts of Adamawa State.

A military source had disclosed further, “The GOC (General Officer Commanding) was at the scene of the attack. A soldier and many passengers were killed in the ambush, and five vehicles, including a military van, were burnt with the passengers inside. A few female passengers were abducted by the insurgents but were released in the evening.”

A miffed Senator Ali Ndume, representing the Borno South, who also confirmed the incident, said, “The spike in killings in the Gwoza area has become rampant in recent times. It happens on a daily basis. So, we are calling on the military to take the fight to the enclave of the insurgents because we all know where they are.

READ MORE AT
https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/reign-of-terror-bandits-hold-northerners-by-jugular-spread-deaths-traumatise-women/%3famp

We were busy supporting a failure during Buhari because he is from our region and what did we get even though we knew that he was not performing, bandits, bokoharam and killings in thousands

The same thing is playing out again in the West.

Bet me, you will all regret it.

Nigeria as a country is useless because of religion and tribalism

On top this matter, someone was saying it is potency of Karma.

I asked "what do you mean ?"

He replied: "he who laf last, lafs best".
He come say again: "after his assignment in the north, Karma is retiring back to the sunset region..."

I was pained and I walked away

The dividends of MU-MU Ticket.

Ethnic cleansing..religious supremacists on rampage, Naira, a worthless piece of tissue.

...Inflation skyrocketinng, no end in sight, unemployment a Monster carcass, debts & darkness strolling with Nigeria..


Meanwhile Nigeria is "broke".. .

Lawmmakers buy Jeeps in millions worth of dollars.

Overbloated appointments as avenue to siphon public revenues by Tinubu to appease goons.

Northernization agenda by Buhari is back to Werstenization of bigotry, nepotism & tribalism by balablu.

Don't forget Nigeria is " broke" . Say it will favour me & my family. Insha Allah

That's their renewed hope!!! I have no "Pity" to waste on them ....the North should enjoy their hot tea

They love Thier Hamas version

Chai!

Certainly, there is an end!

....

AdamuKD:

We were busy supporting a failure during Buhari because he is from our region and what did we get even though we knew that he was not performing, bandits, bokoharam and killings in thousands

The same thing is playing out again in the West.

Bet me, you will all regret it.

Nigeria as a country is useless because of religion and tribalism

Ondoterrorist:
They love Thier Hamas version

Emyzoloye5:
That's their renewed hope!!! I have no "Pity" to waste on them ....the North should enjoy their hot tea

DatNiggaDaz:
The dividends of MU-MU Ticket.

Ethnic cleansing..religious supremacists on rampage, Naira, a worthless piece of tissue.

...Inflation skyrocketinng, no end in sight, unemployment a Monster carcass, debts & darkness strolling with Nigeria..


Meanwhile Nigeria is "broke".. .

Lawmmakers buy Jeeps in millions worth of dollars.

Overbloated appointments as avenue to siphon public revenues by Tinubu to appease goons.

Northernization agenda by Buhari is back to Werstenization of bigotry, nepotism & tribalism by balablu.

Don't forget Nigeria is " broke" . Say it will favour me & my family. Insha Allah

Wittyness

We yoruba Muslims don't care about that,we only care about what will bring down Ipob and Igbos in general.

chiagozien:
We yoruba Muslims don't care about that,we only care about what will bring down Ipob and Igbos in general.

Exactly.