Military kills five bandits in Plateau council

• Hoodlums slay 10 farmers, kidnap scores in Niger, Zamfara

Troops attached to the Forward Operation Base (FOB) of Operation Safe Haven, stationed in Wase Local Council of Plateau State, killed five bandits, including their kingpin, Kachalla Saleh, on Monday.

The incident occurred less than a week after hoodlums and vigilantes clashed in the Dogon Ruwa community, resulting in four deaths.

A vigilante and youth leader in Wase, Abdullahi Haruna, told newsmen that the incident happened around noon in Kinashe village, Bashar District.
He said: “The village is a bushy area, and residents had already fled before the latest incident.

“Bandits had displaced people from the area, using it as a hiding place. The bandits didn’t expect security personnel to descend upon them at that time, given the area’s nature.”

Although Haruna acknowledged that eliminating the bandits does not necessarily end banditry in the area, residents of Wase, particularly Bashar District, have commended the troops for the successful operation.

The villages have suffered from banditry for two years, resulting in numerous deaths, including security personnel.

When contacted, the spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, neither took calls nor responded to messages sent to him.

However, no fewer than 10 farmers, including women from Wayam and Belu-Belu villages in Rafi Local Council of Niger State have been reportedly killed by bandits.
Residents said six of the victims were beheaded and the parts taken away.
They said several others sustained bullet wounds and are being treated at a clinic in Kagara, the headquarters of the council.

Locals explained that bandits had resumed aggressive attacks in the last week, as farmers from Wushishi, Rafi, Shiroro, Mariga and Kontagora council areas began to harvest.

On Friday, it was gathered that hoodlums invaded the ancient town of Zungeru in the Wushishi council area, moving from house to house to steal and kidnap.

A resident said the Zungeru’s invasion occurred at midnight on Saturday during which a staff member of Sino-Hydro, Saidu Yakubu aka Abacha, and his wife, were kidnapped.
It was further gathered that two Indian nationals were kidnapped at a rice farm in Swashi, Borgu Local Council same day.

The Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brig- Gen Bello Abdullahi Mohammed, said: “The Niger State government is very much aware. All the security stakeholders have been mobilised to address the issue, and prevent future reoccurrence.”

Similarly, no fewer than 100 people, including women, children and elderly men, have been kidnapped by hoodlums in Zamfara communities, near Gusau, the state capital.

The Chief Imam, who was previously released and receiving treatment for a leg injury, is among the victims.
Besides, the state authorities and the police have not issued statements concerning the latest incident.

A survivor told the BBC Hausa Service yesterday how the affected communities were in turmoil.

“Near Sabon Layi, over 50 people were taken, and near Dogon Hayi, about 50 more were abducted,” he said, adding that the exact number was still uncertain due to the chaos and panic that ensued, as locals scrambled for safety.

He added: “The terrorists chased people as if they were hunting animals.
“They pursued people on motorbikes, tracked women inside their homes, and abducted them. Some were intercepted while attempting to flee, and were herded into the bush.”

He described how the assailants targeted multiple communities, including Gira, Ruwa Kusa, Dogon Hayi, and Gidan Kado, where they stole motorcycles, farm produce, and personal items like smartphones. They also looted shops for provisions.

Community members reportedly alerted officials in Wanke, but there had reportedly been no official response yet.

The survivor noted that these attacks have plagued their communities for nearly nine years, forcing many residents to seek refuge in Gusau and other areas.