By Ibe Pascal Arogorn
Insecurity continues to linger despite claim by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao that the military is winning the war against bandits, insurgents.
However, checks by Crimefacts.news on Wednesday have revealed that 26 Nigerians were slaughtered by bandits in some parts of the country, while more than 30 were also abducted.
CAMEROON SEPARATISTS KILL 11 IN TARABA
Palpable tension gripped residents of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State when some suspected Ambazonian soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon stormed the community.
Channels Television gathered that 11 persons including a traditional ruler were killed in the incident that took place in the early hours of Wednesday at Manga village.
Takum local government area is a border community between Taraba State and the Republic of Cameroon.
Joseph Manga, the brother of the slain traditional ruler and the Senior Special Assistant to the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a telephone interview.
He disclosed that the Ambazonian soldiers first attacked the border community in Cameroon republic before crossing over to Nigeria to unleash mayhem.
“The Ambazonian separatist soldiers attacked my village Manga which is a border community between Taraba State and Republic of Cameroon in Takum LGA,” he said.
“They, first of all, attacked a village on the other side of the divide and killed people before crossing over to do the same here.
“My elder brother is the traditional ruler there; they laid ambush and killed him in his palace before proceeding to kill others.
“The death toll at the moment is 11 including my brother the traditional ruler, we are still combing the bush to recover more bodies or possibly those hiding.”
Other residents of the community are said to still be missing as they are suspected to have fled to other communities for safety.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Local Government Area, Shiban Tikari disclosed that as at when he visited the scene in the early hours of today after receiving the distress call, only five dead bodies were recovered.
He said, “I can confirm to you that we have so far recovered 5 bodies from the scene and others are still been sort for in nearby bush.
“My team alongside the military visited to restore normalcy and ensure that such thing does not repeat itself.
“For now we do not know those that came to attack but news filtered in saying that they are Ambazonian separatist soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon.”
BANDITS KILL 14 IN SOKOTO FRESH ATTACK
At least 14 persons have been killed in attacks across communities in Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto State.
The attackers struck few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari directed the redeployment of more military hardware to the state in order to tackle insecurity.
A resident of Sabon Birni, who confirmed the attack, said bandits invaded some villages in Unguwan Lalle district, on Tuesday night.
According to him, they killed one Abdullahi Usman at Unguwan Lalle town, nine at Tsangerawa village and four at Tamindawa.
They also opened fire on a commercial vehicle at Gajid village, resulting in the deaths of three persons, including the driver.
Five other passengers, who sustained gunshot injuries, are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
The bandits were also said to have abducted three persons in the village.
The victims were later released after an agreement that the locals would pay N2 million levy within few days.
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kamaluddeen Okunlola said eight persons were killed by the attackers.
In an interview with Daily Trust, the Commissioner said, “They attacked some remote villages who are not accessible due to bad road. But by the Grace of God, we are going to get them. We are working on them.
“Even last night, Mr. President directed for more military equipment to Sokoto,” he said
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have confirmed the killing of one of their drivers who was part of the rescue mission in Running Sambo area.
The spokesman of the command, Hamza Adamu Illela, said the officer (name withheld) was not killed by bandits.
“We received a distress call that, some miscreants were attacking one residence in the area and our men quickly responded to the call and in the process, our driver was gunned down,” he said.
ONE KILLED, 30 KIDNAPPED IN NIGER COMMUNITY
A hunter has been killed while 30 persons have been kidnapped
A hunter has been killed while 30 persons have been kidnapped in Zazzaga Community, Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Monday Bala Kuryas, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust.
He said it took place at 2am on Wednesday, adding that, “the police are already on the trail of the attackers to rescue the kidnapped victims unhurt.”
However, the Munya Local Government Secretary, James Jagaba, told our correspondent on telephone that 68 persons were kidnapped, including women and children.
“They came in large numbers when the victims were sleeping and took control of the community. One person was killed, three were shot while 68 persons were kidnapped,” he said.
Another source from the community said the bandits operated from one house to another.
“A hunter was shot dead during gun duel with the criminals. We don’t know the whereabouts of the kidnapped persons. But security personnel comprising the police, military and vigilantes have been deployed in the community,” he said.
The insecurity in the country has taken a worse turn despite repeated assurances from the authorities.
On Monday, secretary to the Niger State government said five communities in Shiroro Local Government Area are under the control of Boko Haram.
WHAT THE SERVICE CHIEFS SAID ON TUESDAY
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Isiaka Amao, on Tuesday, assured members of the Senate that the end of insurgency and banditry was in sight.
His assurance came three days after the Nigerian military lost an Army general and four soldiers to the Islamic State West Africa Province brand of terrorists in Askira Uba, in Borno State.
The Senate through its committee on Air Force, however, tasked the military to intensify its onslaughts against the insurgents and bandits for the required peace and development in the affected areas.
The Air Chief gave the assurance when he defended the 2022 budget of the Air Force before the committee.
He said the insurgents of whatever faction, be it Boko Haram or ISWAP, had been devastatingly decimated and degraded with attendant loss of fighters and weapons on weekly basis, making many of them surrender voluntarily.
He said, “The required onslaughts tactically and strategically are already mapped out to rout the remnants of the insurgents attacking villages and military outposts in pretence of still being potent.
“In line with the core mandate of the Air Force and military, the territorial integrity of Nigeria is being protected against the insurgents and bandits who in no distant time will be completely wiped out,” he said.
He added that the 2021 budgetary allocations given to the Air Force were judiciously used in prosecuting the war against the insurgents and bandits as well as improving the welfare of officers.
He said, “In the face of challenges at hand, prudency and accountability have been the guiding principle of implementation of budgetary allocations by the Nigeria Air Force.”
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibn Bala Na’ Allah (APC Kebbi South), tasked the military outfit to use all the resources within its disposal in routing out the remnants of the insurgents and making the forests inhabitable for bandits, kidnappers and all forms of criminals.
He said, “The Air Force and by extension, the military generally, deserved commendation from Nigerians as far as war against insurgency and banditry are concerned but Nigerians want these enemies of the Nation to be completely defeated as soon as possible.
“For us on this Committee and in the National Assembly, required Appropriations in terms of procurement of weapons, armaments and enhancement of the welfare of officers and men in the military, shall be made since the essence of governance itself is security and welfare of the citizenry.”
Terrorists of the ISWAP group had on Saturday in Askira Uba ambushed and killed Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers, aside from a soldier earlier killed on Friday by the terrorists within the same radius.
ALSO, Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff, said the military is winning the war against insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country.
Irabor, who spoke on Tuesday at the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Delta base in Warri, said the massive surrender of insurgents is an indication of the success of the military.
The army had recently said at least 17,000 insurgents have so far surrendered to troops.
Speaking on the development, the CDS said insurgency would soon become a thing of the past in the country.
“I am sure you know that truly we are winning the war. You have seen reports of the massive surrender of Boko Haram terrorists among other things. So, that’s an indication that we are winning the war,” he said.
“In no distant time, we will see the totality of the end of such kind of criminality in that part of the country.”
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Irabor said it was to enable him to see the troops as well as inspect all formations and units involved in ensuring peace and security in the Niger Delta region.
He also commended Abdulhamid Baba-Inna, commander of NNS Delta, and his officers for their diligence.
“They know what is right and they are able to take proactive actions against any form of criminality in this area,” he said.
“I think that it is something to be applauded and I have encouraged them to sustain the tempo.”
