The recent attack of Bandits which claimed the lives of two prominent vigilantee fighters even though the Bandits on the other hand have suffered total defeat and annihilation on the hands of the Galant Yan Sakai has re-echoed, reaffirmed and reconfirmed our fears that Bandits only went on break owing to series of defeats they suffered in their last encounters in the hands of combined teams of our security forces together with Yan Sakai. Between 1st to 3rd June 2021, Bandits have attacked communities in Danko Wasagu and Sakaba Local Governments areas killing nine police officers, some vigilantee fighters and they displaced thousands people and kidnapped hundreds. In Gaya alone they killed about 150 persons. In July this same year, they killed 7 seven soldiers. Earlier before that they have kidnapped about 100 Students and staff of FGC BIRNIN YAURI. About 30 of this kidnapped Students have regained their freedom last month.
One of the the major or the greatest setback of the fight against Terrorism and Banditry is the inability of both State and Federal Government to have a sustainable, robust and proactive master plan in responding to terror signals and terror attacks on its innocent Citizens. Like in Indian films our security forces only show up after the Bandits have finished their operations and left. Then some hours or days later, our security forces will appear with their armoured vehicles making them to look like forensic security experts instead of offensive operatives, they ought to be. This kind of approach is called by a Hausa man ” Kuwa bayan yaki” which literally means ” shouting after the thieves have gone”
Between June 15th and 16th 2021, that’s within the same period FGC BIRNIN YAURI STUDENTS were kidnapped, Bandits have suffered huge defeat as many of them were killed in Ushe and Dankolo areas. From that very day, they went into hiding far away from Zuru communities into their enclaves in Zamfara and Niger States.
Last week between 7th to 11th November 2021 some Bandits were seen to have crossed from Zamfara state to border towns of Kebbi state along remote areas of Dirin Daji, Sakaba Local Government area of Kebbi state. They were seen working freely with their bags mounted on their backs , upon noticing that the villagers were apprehensive of them, they brought out their weapons and started shooting on the air. From the information gathered the Bandits were advanced team or spies on surveillance mission disguised as innocent travellers unlike their usual way of attacking communities on motorcycles. They were numbering about 30 to 40 but only four were said to have survived in the aftermath of their encounter with Yan Sakai. They ordered the village head to prepare food for them which he did, they also ask him to take them to a safe place on the nearby hill not knowing that was their undoing and doom. This prompted the villagers to seek reinforcement and support from the Yan Sakai of Dabai, Rikoto, Senchi,Ribah and Bedi. The response from the Yan Sakai was massive as they mobilised and moved to the battle field and engaged the enemies killing many of them.
Two Yan Sakai were killed during the fierce battle and exchange of fire with the Bandits
Interviewing the other two vigilante fighters who suffered some minor gun injuries, they narrated how tough the battle was and how two of their squadron members were killed. They said they can not ascertain what went wrong that claimed the two lives of their fighters, may be “their time was up” said one young man limbing. This is the first time the author of this article witnessed the inability of bullets to penetrate a human skin. About two other vigilantee fighters who suffered gunshots were referred to Federal Medical Center, Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
A day after the battle, precisely on Saturday, the vigilantee fighters returned to the battle field to recover the dead of body of of one of them, who was not seen after they returned from the battle the previous day. They were supported by the military who came on eight vehicles. The Bandits were engaged again and killed and the dead body of the killed Dan Sakai was recovered and buried according to the rites of his traditions. The military successfully mobed out the remnant Bandits
In it’s pursuit and Political thinking to end the bloody sieges of farmers and our local populations, the Kebbi state Government and Federal Government need to be deliberate, not waiting until the Bandits have attacked and ransacked their target villages and left before the security agents will show up. The Yan Sakai have proving themselves on many battles to be resilient, consistent and reliable. Therefore, they should be well armed to end the incessant attacks by Bandits instead of allowing them to be using inferior weaponry. There are alot of ungoverned geographical spaces in Nigeria, the state governors should establish laws that will allow the local farmers to defend themselves and their communities. The Kebbi state Government need to exercise responsibility in restraining the resurgence of Bandits in Kebbi South. The Bandits have already avowed to stop the farmers from harvesting their crops. This is the right time to draft security outfits into all vulnerable areas . All distress calls from the vulnerable areas should be attended to with the speed of light and if this is done , we may be able to halt or at least reduce the impact of the inevitable hunger that is looming to occur next year.
Already there other unconfirmed reports from Kanya that two boys rearing cattle were shot dead by the moving Bandits. Many were said to be also kidnapped in the outskirts of Danko. About two bread factory workers in zuru were kidnapped, all of these criminal activities were be carried out in the last two weeks
Therefore, the Kebbi state Government should know that the recent attacks by the Bandits were meant to taste the waters purposely to identify the preparedness of the Vigilantee fighters and security agents after which, they will have the intelligence they need to launch a full scale attack. It is their normal routine intrigues or cunning battle attitudes This article is to serve as a wake up call to the Kebbi State Government, Federal Government and the Security formations presently drafted to secure these vulnerable areas.
