• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home Features Katsina, New Haven of Terror-Banditry in Nigeria?
  • Features

Katsina, New Haven of Terror-Banditry in Nigeria?

By
Yushau A. Shuaib
-
December 19, 2020

Katsina, New Haven of Terror-Banditry in Nigeria?
By Yushau A. Shuaib

Was it not strange that the abduction of Kankara boys occurred on the day President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Daura, his hometown, in Katsina State, on a private visit? It is even more curious that the abductees were released on his birthday. Buhari last visited the state in December 2019, when he inaugurated construction work on the N18 billion University of Transportation, Daura.

While Borno in the North-East is the epicentre of Boko Haram terrorism, Zamfara in the North-West seems to be the hotbed of armed banditry, and Katsina, the home state of the President is fast becoming the haven of the fusion of notorious gangs of terror-bandits.

Just recently terrorists massacred over 45 farmers at Zabarmani in Borno and armed bandits kidnapped an Imam and 17 Muslim worshipers while observing congregational prayer at Dutsen Gari mosque in Zamfara before the terror-bandits abducted large population of students in Kankara, Katsina State.

The Katsina State Government had officially announced the abduction of 333 Kankara students before the Government of Zamfara State confirmed the release of 344 boys by the bandits.

In the peak of the crisis, an audio message from Shekau’s faction of Boko Haram, which had claimed responsibility for the abduction, did not provide video footage or photo evidence. The propaganda merely confirms the fact that bandits in the North-West and terrorists in the North-East are forging ties to destabilise the nation. In fact, PRNigeria has reported that terrorist groups are now recruiting the services of local gangs of bandits to carry out attacks and abductions for rewards.
The claim of responsibility by the terror group compelled some states to announce the closure of schools, especially in Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Jigawa.

The latest incident of abduction which evoked memories of the 2014 kidnap of more than 275 students of Chibok Girls Secondary school in Borno State by terrorists, is fuelling a political rivalry between the People Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) as they engage in blame game over the saga.

When the spokesperson of APC, Yekini Nabena, issued a statement to the effect that a governor in the north-west was sponsoring bandits in the region, Governor Matawalle of PDP promptly retorted by saying that Zamfara was a den of bandits with high cases of banditry under the leadership of APC.
Even though Gov Masari had confirmed a negotiation between Katsina government with the abductors, Gov Matawalle insisted that he facilitated the release of 344 schoolboys without any payment of ransom. In an interview with Daily Nigerian, Zamfara Governor said he deployed repentant bandits and the leadership of Miyetti Allah to identify the syndicate that led the abduction, and then started the negotiation process.

Read Also:

  • NAF Invites Applications for Airmen, Airwomen Recruitment 46/2025
  • Bilyaminu Bello’s Family Condemns Presidential Pardon for Maryam Sanda, Cites “Inexorable Pain”
  • Kano Police Bust Armed Robbery Syndicate, Arrest 9 Suspects, Recover Weapons

While security services, especially the military are also laying claim to the rescue of students from captivity, it would be recalled that a joint rescue operation was launched when intelligence services identified Zango/Paula forest as the hideout of the abductors, before a leader of a terrorist group claimed responsibility for the abduction. There are aerial videos and photos of troops monitoring the movements of the bandits and the students in the forest during the saga. The persistent military surveillance through ISR to some extent denied the abductors freedom of action and prevented the movement of the children across the border to a neighbouring country.

The motorcycle-riding armed bandits have been actively involved in cattle rustling for trade, kidnapping for ransom, raping for pleasure and mass murder in reprisal attacks, sometimes against security forces in most daring and worrisome coincidences.

Apart from the abduction of Kankara students during the President’s visit in Katsina, another coincidence was the killing of 23 Nigerian soldiers in an ambush by armed bandits in Jibia area in July. That deadly attack on troops occurred after the Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai had flagged off a Special Army Super Camp IV in the State. In fact during the flagging off ceremony in Faskari, Buratai said the establishment of the super camp was to mark the commencement of “Exercise Sahel Sanity 2020” to curb banditry and other forms of crimes plaguing communities in the North-West. He also commissioned intervention projects executed in various communities in Katsina to improve the civil-military relationship.

Similarly, in November (last month), heavily armed bandits, dressed in military camouflage, kidnapped nine police officers in the rank of Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) between Kankara and Sheme towns in Katsina, before they were rescued/freed afterward.

Before then, in June, bandits stormed communities in Faskari and killed more than 46 people, mostly the aged, women and children. Some of the communities affected in the gruesome attacks include Kadisau, Maigora, Kabalawa, Kwakware, Raudama and Unguwar Wahabi.

Intelligence has shown that the bandits operate from their hideouts in the massive and dreaded Rugu forest that cuts across Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Batsari, Dandume, Sabuwa, Kankara and Faskari Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

Surprisingly, as the Nigerian military intensifies its offensives in decimating several camps and neutralising many of the bandits, mostly through massive air raids and ground operations, the ranks of bandits increase by the day.

Despite the release of Kankara boys by terror-bandits, citizens still live in fear and apprehension of further attacks by bandits. In fact, the freed students while lamenting the suffering they went through in the kidnappers’ den, said they were not willing to return to school.

There is also the fear that with the vast majority of the population in that region living in extreme poverty, and kidnapping becoming a lucrative industry, some of the youths may be tempted to join the underworld in the nefarious business of ransom payments.

Therefore, there must be concerted efforts to tackle the emergence of armed terror-bandits, a conspiracy between terrorists and bandits not only in Katsina but elsewhere in Northern Nigeria.

I believe strongly that the government and the citizens should should evolve strategies in tackling the menace. They should address poor education, improper upbringing, drug addiction, joblessness, poor governance and above all weak intelligence gathering to help security services in tackling the worsening insecurity in Nigeria.

Yushuau A. Shuaib
www.YAShuaib.com

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Kankara
  • katsina
  • terror-banditry
Previous articleThird-Estate Expresses Condolence over the Death of CP Jimoh
Next articleIlorin Anchor, Emirate Stakeholders Mourn CP Abdulkadir Jimoh
Yushau A. Shuaib
Yushau A. Shuaib
https://prnigeria.com/

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Improving Nigeria’s Digital Safety Through Customs–NCC Synergy

African body, experts urge leaders to step up countries’ health financing

Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum

Gen. Irabor’s Book Exposes Boko Haram’s Sexual Violence Tactics and Drug Use

Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi

Rufai vs Umahi: “Were Lanfi Wo Were” When Ego Overshadows Professionalism By Haroon Aremu

A Warning to Senator Ted Cruz by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

NDLEA Logo

NDLEA Operatives Nab Businessman After Excreting 127 Wraps of Cocaine at Kano Airport

Nigerian Youths

Foreign Hands and the Dangerous Narratives Hurting Nigeria, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum

In Scars, Gen. Irabor Chronicles the Human Toll of Boko Haram: 2,700 Soldiers and 350,000 Lives Lost

Troops Crush Terrorist Attack in Ngamdu, Kill Several Insurgents

Guests at IPRA Conference in Ghana

TRAVELOGUE: Of a Roadside Presidential Office, a Wise Driver and 3 Days in Ghana

Bauchi’s Investment Summit: Heralding a New Era of Prosperity, By Lawal Muazu Bauchi

Mental Health

Nigeria’s Silent Epidemic: Why Mental Health Can No Longer Wait By Hadiza Isyaku Abdulsalam

Recent Posts

  • NAF Invites Applications for Airmen, Airwomen Recruitment 46/2025
  • Bilyaminu Bello’s Family Condemns Presidential Pardon for Maryam Sanda, Cites “Inexorable Pain”
  • Kano Police Bust Armed Robbery Syndicate, Arrest 9 Suspects, Recover Weapons
  • Improving Nigeria’s Digital Safety Through Customs–NCC Synergy
  • Kwara Gov’t Disburses N180 Million to Families of Fallen Forest Guards, Vigilantes, Community Fighters
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
NAF Invites Applications for Airmen, Airwomen Recruitment 46/2025Bilyaminu Bello's Family Condemns Presidential Pardon for Maryam Sanda, Cites "Inexorable Pain"Kano Police Bust Armed Robbery Syndicate, Arrest 9 Suspects, Recover WeaponsImproving Nigeria’s Digital Safety Through Customs–NCC SynergyKwara Gov't Disburses N180 Million to Families of Fallen Forest Guards, Vigilantes, Community FightersDSS Warns Public Against another Dismissed Officer Impersonating AgencyTrump Arrives in Israel Ahead of Egypt Summit on Gaza Peace EffortsInformation Minister Congratulates Danlami Nmodu on Election as GOCOP PresidentFCT Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 52 SuspectsPolice Reform Deepens as NASS Okays 2 Landmark Bills to Strengthen ForceAfrican body, experts urge leaders to step up countries' health financingSoldier, Wife Found Dead at Wawa Cantonment as Army Orders InvestigationGen. Irabor’s Book Exposes Boko Haram’s Sexual Violence Tactics and Drug UseIGP Reassigns Senior Police Officers to FCT, Kogi Commands Pending PSC ApprovalArmy Eliminates Wanted IPOB Commander, 26 Others, Rescue Hostages in Nationwide Operations
X whatsapp