News Editor
By Steven Kefas
Heavily armed bandits have infiltrated communities in Gurara local government area of Niger state and neighboring Kagarko local government area of Kaduna state in what residents and security experts believed to be an attempt to have a strong base close to Abuja the nation’s capital.
The bandits numbering over a thousand were said to have invaded several communities in the two local government areas forcing residents to abandon their properties and houses.
TMSNews spoke to some residents of Kabo, Gusu, Kparayi, Yuma, Seji and others who confirmed they have all fled their communities for fear of the daredevil bandits.
This newspaper also gathered that the communities being attacked are few kilometres away from the Federal capital Territory, Abuja.
A resident of Kabo who gave his name as Salihu told TMSnews that the bandits began trooping into their community on Sunday March 27, riding on motorcycles.
“It all began last Sunday, 27 March, around evening time, we saw the bandits well armed in their hundreds riding into our community.
“It was strange because we have never experienced such, they began to shoot as people run away for their lives. As I speak to you, many of us are seeking refuge in Diko.” He said.
Another resident of Kabo who spoke on condition of anonymity, told TMSnews that the bandits killed at least seven (7) soldiers and yet to be specified number of policemen during a shootout in the community.
“After they killed three people on Sunday, they returned on Monday 28 and the soldiers came to engage the in a gun battle.
“The exchange lasted several hours, seven soldiers from Zuma barracks were killed during the gun battle while some policemen and some bandits were also killed. The bandits also burnt some Hilux vehicles belonging to the army” He said.
In Neighbouring Kagarko local government area of Kaduna state, communities are also begining to face attacks by armed bandits, an occurrence residents believe to be strange in the area. Kagarko local government also borders the FCT.
Several communities in Kagarko have been attacked by bandits in the last one week, a resident who gave his name as Akila told this newspaper.
“What is happening here in Kagarko is strange to us, in the last one week alone they have attacked; Kpomu, Chivi, Gwina, Tulu, Dugbana, Kwaliko, Tufa etc.
“All these communities share land border with Gurara local government area of Niger state and because the bandits are already in Gurara, we know that we are no longer safe here.” Akila said.
A security expert who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the bandits are indeed already surrounding Abuja, waiting for the right time to strike the capital city.
He said if the government continues to foot-drag, the country will in no distant time witness what he calls the ‘Afghan experience’.
“What is happening in Nigeria today, is not something that should be handled with kid gloves, the government must be firm, proactive and decisive in dealing with these terrorists. I call them terrorists because that is who they are and even the court has confirmed that.
“The influx of these terrorists into communities surrounding Abuja should worry all of us because it means that the capital of the county is being threatened.
“Am sure you remember they attacked a community in Kwali local government area, now those are the danger signs we all need to take very seriously.
“If we are not careful, we may soon be witnessing the Afghan style takeover of government in this country. Few months ago, some of these terrorists operating in Shiroro area of Niger state were asking the residents for direction to Abuja. What that means is that the terrorists have bigger plans and the government must act very fast to avert such from happening.
“If you look at the distance between Kagarko and Abuja via the new road, you will appreciate the risk these attacks happening there pose to Abuja” He said.
Bandits operating in the country have intensified their activities lately by launching more daring attacks on government owned facilities.
Recall that a Kaduna bound passenger train was attacked by bandits on Monday March 28, leading to the dead of at least 8 passengers while many were either injured or abducted by the bandits.
Nasiru Elrufai, the governor of Kaduna state in reaction to the attack on the rail line threatened to import mercenaries to fight the bandits if the federal government fails to address the issue.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor said he will do anything possible to protect lives.
“I have complained to Mr president and I swear to God, if action is not taken, we as governors will take actions to protect the lives of our people.
“If it means deploying foreign mercenaries to come and do the work, we will do it to address these challenges.”
Governor Elrufai had on Wednesday after the attack on the rail line admitted that the Nigerian authorities know the camps, the identities and listen to the conversations of the armed groups that are terrorising large swaths of the North-west region.
“We know where their camps are. We know their camps, we have the maps; we know everything. We have their phone numbers and listen to their conversation sometimes. But it has to be done across the five states,” he said.also said that the security agencies in the country know where the bandits are camped but have refused to ‘bomb them’. Elrufai said
The response of the Nigerian military to the bandits activities have been strongly criticized by Nigerians, with many alleging a collusion between the military and the bandits.
Prominent among such voices is a former chief of defence staff, General TY Danjuma rtd. who in a 2018 lecture in Jalingo, Taraba state, stated that the Nigerian military is colluding with criminals to launch attacks on communities in the country.
“The armed forces are not neutral; they collude with the armed bandits that kill people, kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movement. They cover them. If you are depending on the Armed Forces to stop the killings, you will all die one by one.” Danjuma said.
