Life is becoming unbearable for residents of the eastern part of Sokoto state, following incessant attacks by bandits suspected to be members of the notorious Turji gang.
Two bandit gangs, named after their leaders – Turji and Halilu – terrorize the area. While the Halilu group had accepted the peace deal offered by the state government some weeks ago, the Turji group turned it down.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE gathered the Turji group later split into smaller groups, following unresolved feud among its members, which was said to have led to the death of many of them.
After the feud, some of the bandits sought refuge in Sabon Birni, Gundumi, Anka, and Bakura forests. And it is from here that they launched attacks on innocent citizens in the eastern part of the state.
The state Commissioner for Security Matters retired Colonel Garba Moyi who confirmed the development to our reporter explained that the bandits’ targets were mostly their former business partners who collected their cows and refused to pay them their money.
“They also kill Yan Sakai and those who go after them to recover their cattle,” he said
“But all the same this thing is unacceptable. We will not continue to allow some unscrupulous elements making life unbearable for our people,” he said
Moyi also said that the bandits also operate in some parts of Isa, Goronyo, Rabah, Wurno, and Illela communities.
Turning villages to killing fields
In Sabon Birni alone, the 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE gathered that about 20 persons were killed and over 1,000 cattle were rustled within one week.
It was also learnt that over 14 villages have been deserted, with some of the residents currently taking refuge in Maradi in the Republic of Niger.
Within a week, some of the villages attacked by bandits in Sabon Birni include Kurawa, Tsamaye, Dangari, and Klage. Three people, including a woman, were killed in Kurawa, one person in Tsamaye, and three people each in Dangari and Kalage.
It was also gathered that two soldiers were killed and five others injured while responding to distress calls in Sabon Birni area. Several villagers were also killed in Isa, Goronyo, and Rabah, recently.
As the attacks continued unabated, the residents of the affected area cried out to the state government for help.
A former chairman of Sabon Birni local government, Idris Gobir, lamented that the state government had left the residents to their fate.
“In Sabon Birni it is a matter of life and death. People are being killed continuously without doing anything about it,” he said.
“Many people have left their homes and abandoned their farm because of incessant attacks by bandits.
“Over 14 villages are deserted, and people have fled to the Republic of Niger, where they believe it is safer for them. Some people have also gone to their relatives in the cities.”
Gobir, however, appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their rescue before they all fled to the Republic of Niger.
Residents’ complains
The commissioner said there were complaints by residents that security operatives do not respond to their distress calls.
“People accused the soldiers of not responding to distress calls for fear of being ambushed by the bandits,” Moyi said. “But if they cannot confront these bandits, what is the essence of their presence in the area?”
Why we are careful of ambush – army
However, the spokesperson of 8 Division of the Nigeria Army in Sokoto, Major Adamu Yahya Ngulde, dismissed the allegations. He said the army always responds swiftly to distress calls as directed by the General Officer Commanding of the division.
“The GOC had directed the army to respond to any distress call and to ensure the timely rescue of kidnapped victims but in doing so they should be cautious of ambush,” Ngulde said. “Just last two weeks, the Garrison Commander led a clearance operation along that axis.”
On the alleged withdrawal of troops deployed to the area, he said there was nothing like that.
“In fact, the current Chief of Army Staff has injected more troops to deal with banditry in the region,” he said.
Tambuwal prioritize politics over security – residents
Residents of Sokoto have accused the state Governor, Aminu Waziri, of giving priority to his presidential ambition rather than the security of lives and property of citizens.
Tambuwal has been out of the state for two weeks, despite incessant bandit attacks in some parts of the state. No condolence message has been sent to the victims of the attacks.
“His concern is how to save his party, the PDP not to save his people who waited in the queue for hours to vote for him,” a critic said.
