Over 50,000 residents of 17 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area have relocated to Niger Republic over incessant bandits’ attacks.

This was disclosed by the member representing Sabon Birni North constituency at the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Aminu Almustapha Boza.

Boza said the villagers are currently taking refuge at Tudun Sunnah village, Gidan Runji Local Government in Maradi State of Niger Republic.

The lawmaker, however, alleged that he made several attempts to see Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal over their plight but to no avail.

“I have been trying to see the governor but he refused to grant me audience because he knows my reason of seeing him.

“Our people are being killed every day. So far, we counted over 50,000 of them taking refuge in Niger Republic. It took us two days to count them in the presence of Governor of Maradi and chairman of Gidan Runji.

“I am regretting joining politics. I know the kind of support we gave the governor during his re-election because he promised us security, development and others but look at it, my people are suffering and he cannot come or send a delegate or even relief materials to them.

“The last time he (Tambuwal) came to our area was after bandits massacred several people in Tarah area last year where he advised my constituents against taking arms to defend themselves,” he alleged.

However, Governor Tambuwal denied shunning the lawmaker, saying he has been contacting him over the security situation in his constituency.

Speaking through his media aide, Tambuwal recalled that he had facilitated a meeting between the Commissioner of Police, the Director DSS in the state and the lawmaker during which he was directed to contact any one of them in any distressed situation.

He added that the member was one of the two members invited for the last security meeting but only that of the Isa Constituency attended.

Tambuwal further explained that providing security is a prerogative of the president but despite that the state government would not shy away from its responsibility of ensuring the wellbeing and welfare of its people.

Tambuwal also said that he had called the lawmaker last Thursday before departing the state on an official trip.

But the lawmaker denied being invited to attend any security meeting, just as he admitted talking to the governor on phone last Thursday during which he asked him to call the Minister of Police Affairs, the Chairman Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Senator Ibrahim Gobir and the Chief of Army Staff over the security situation in his area, to which he responded that he was not the “Chief Security officer” of the state.

“That was the only time he called me and those were what he told me to do,” he alleged.

Boza described the condition of the refugees as pathetic because they were staying in an open place with no toilets, food or drugs.

“They are living under the rain and sun, with nothing from the local and state governments. I bought some bags of garrin rogo, rice and mosquito nets with some drugs for them and I will buy more today. My fear is what will happen if there is any outbreak in the camp,” he said.

He noted that over 300 people lost their lives to banditry in Sabon Birni Local Government Area between 2020 and now.

On why he was blaming Governor Tambuwal while he has no control over security operatives, he said that the governor is the Chief Security Officer of his state.

“We have seen what Governor Zulum is doing in Borno State to bring peace to his people. Today, you will see him at the villa, tomorrow either with Chief of Army Staff or Chief of Air Staff or even at the refugee camp and his efforts are paying because Boko Haram members are voluntarily surrendering themselves to the Army.

“Another example is what his friend and our neighbour, the governor of Zamfara State, is doing to restore peace in the state.

“This is what we want to see from Governor Tambuwal – going to places where he knows we can get help, especially now that the Chief of Army Staff is from Sokoto. He should visit him and solicit for his support because there is no way the federal government can come in without the cooperation of the state government,” he said.

On whether he would resign from his position because of the situation, he said “I had wanted to resign since but I was prevailed upon by some prominent people in Sokoto, including Islamic scholars.”

He dismissed the accusation that security issue was being politicized in Sabon Birni.

When contacted, the Chairman of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Umaru Danyaro Unguwan Lalle, said he would not grant any interview on the matter because they were still collating data of the affected communities.

“I don’t want to give wrong figures as other people used to do. I have to be sure of what I reveal to the press,” he said.

However, the state Commissioner for Career and Security Matters, retired Colonel Garba Moyi, denied that the state government was not doing anything to ameliorate the plight of Sabon Birni residents.

He said that the government has continued to provide financial and logistic support to security agencies in the state.

According to Moyi, unless there were adequate security operatives in the area and they were allowed to operate freely, the problem would continue to linger.

“We learnt that the current General Officer Commanding 8 Division has directed his men not to respond to distress calls and not to operate at night. This directive must be withdrawn by the GOC,” he said.

Moyi enjoined the people of Sabon Birni to always report informants in their midst and to stop politicizing security issue.

He also urged them to stop going after bandits after any attack on their community to avoid ambush.

In an earlier interview, the spokesman of the 8 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major Adamu Yahaya Ngulde, dismissed the allegations, saying the army always responds to distress calls as directed by the General Officer Commanding the division.

“The GOC had directed the army to respond to any distress call and to ensure timely rescue of kidnapped victims but in doing so, they should be cautious of ambush.

“Just two weeks ago, the Garrison Commander led a clearance operation along that axis,” he said.

On the alleged withdrawal of troop deployed to the area, he said there was nothing like that. “In fact, the current Chief of Army Staff has injected more troops to deal with banditry in the region,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has been appointed chairman of the Sokoto Main Security Committee by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

This followed a stakeholders meeting on security which held at the International Conference Hall, Kasarawa on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his deputy, Manir Dan’iya, former Governors of the state, Attahiru Bafarawa and Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko respectively.

According to Governor Tambuwal, the meeting was convened to discuss the lingering security problems in the state and finding solutions to them.

https://dailytrust.com/17-sokoto-communities-relocate-to-niger-republic-over-bandits-attacks

Last April, Idris Deby joined his country's soldiers at the frontline, appearing in military fatigues, he exudes confidence and inspired his soldiers in an operation that decimated & rid it's territories of Boko Haram.

In Niger Republic, President Muhammadu Yusoufou had sacked his Army Chief after 70 soldiers were killed by Boko Haram in March, he also ordered investigation into defence spendings and arms contract. 

.....Set out a target and timeframe, for the service chiefs-end insecurity or get fired! That's how a serious C-in-C discharges his duty, authoritatively. You don't keep doing same thing over and over, and expect different results.

http://saharareporters.com/2020/06/20/insecurity-sleeping-president-adbullahi-d-mohammed

This is the second time Niger Republic is salvaging Nigeria citizens from the menace posed by the unrelenting activities of atrocious and treasonable bandits/BH terrorists that the Buhari's govt have allowed to fostered uncontrollablly.Shame on the paper giant of Africa.

They probably went back to wherever they came from

What a time?

What happend to all the defence and security vote budgets?


Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba for 2023...

Nigeria is gone

The North has totally gone bananas yet all Buhari and his Fulani goons are desperately after is ESN, IPOB and how to conquer Southerners. At the end, they will lose all

Wake up poor Muslim Northerners

The power they love so much in the north is what is now consuming them. 2023 they will still want to drag power with the south.

proeast:
The North has totally gone bananas yet all Buhari and his Fulani goons are desperately after is ESN, IPOB and how to conquer Southerners. At the end, they will lose all.

Not forgetting their obsession with #EndSARS protests

Anyone who knows how Nigeria works won't buy this attempt at creating an emergency that will help attract NEMA funds or charity. We saw how Covid-19 grew in Kano because Lagos got some billions to checkmate it at inception.

Racoon:
Not forgetting their obsession with #EndSARS protests

These are exaggerated news meant to milk the FG or Oyel money further. You mean northerners will run away from their own land?

Like the Bandits have safe haven in Nigeria.

Something is wrong with leadership in Nigeria.

Only? The should up their game

Repent now of your sinful evil ways to avoid spending your eternity in hell fire after you die. Jesus Christ love and warns you to repent and convert now to Christianity to avoid hell fire. Only Jesus Christ can save you by his death on the cross and his blood which washes away your sins, any other ways ( Islam, paganism, Hinduism, atheism, etc) can not save you. Be wise while you still have the chance accept Jesus Christ now and save your soul from hell. Be wiser than Satan and follow the one true God. This is the eternal truth from the spiritual realm.