₦airaland Forum

Zamfara report on banditry: Two ex-Govs indicted, another for trial, 15 Emirs to be removed

...10 ‘reckless’ military officers for court martial

It isn’t a list anyone would be proud of. In plain terms, it is a frightening list. But here it is in black and white: 6,319 persons arbitrarily and willfully killed; 3,672 kidnapped; N2, 805,049,748 paid as ransom; 6,483 widows and 25,050 orphans left behind by slain victims; 215,241 cows, 141,404 sheep, 20,600 of other animals (such as camels and donkeys) rustled; and 3,587 houses, 1,487 motor vehicles and motor cycles burnt.

Then a foot note to the list: Bandits operated 105 camps from which they launched deadly attacks on Zamfara, kill and steal the people’s properties at will; their leaders identified.

Grim figures, no doubt.

But this is just a small segment of the chilling report of the high wire banditry raging in Zamfara, but has now spilled into several states across the country, and consequently putting national security in jeopardy.

Other segments of the report include the indictment of several members of the traditional institution, top government officials and security forces.

As of the time Sunday Vanguard exclusively obtained the report last week, some of the men who engaged in the bloodletting Zamfara banditry had moved further North-West and North-Central, wreaking unprecedented havoc in Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger states.

No white paper on the far reaching recommendations of the committee that wrote the report has been issued two years after the report was submitted to Zamfara State government.

The slightest hint yet that something was being done on the implementation of the recommendations was made during the celebration of Democracy Day on June 12, 2021, about one and a half years after the 279 page report had been submitted, when Governor Mohammed Bello Matawalle said, in a broadcast, that he had demonstrated commitment to the implementation of the report with the suspension of the emirs of Maru, Dansadau and Zurmi, who, among several others, had been indicted in the report of the panel for allegedly colluding with bandits to kidnap, collect ransom or even kill their people.

The report was submitted in October 2019 but the recommendations have largely not been implemented.

Had it been implemented, at least one former governor should be facing trial for alleged murder while several emirs, not just three who have been suspended, would have been deposed.

10 army officers would also have faced court martial.

A source close to the Government House, Gusau, however, said a panel was raised to review the recommendations and report back to government.

The committee, tagged Zamfara Committee for Finding Solution to Armed Banditry in the State, had been raised by Matawalle on his assumption of office in May 2019 to investigate the banditry that had blown into full scale war between indigenous Hausa farmers and Fulani herders in the state.

Specifically, the terms of reference included investigation of willful killings, kidnappings, destruction of properties and other related matters in Zamfara and to make recommendations to the state government on the appropriate actions to take, and investigation of the remote and immediate factors responsible for the unprecedented and wide-spread killings, maiming, kidnappings, rape, cattle rustlings, destruction of crops/grains and displacement in the state.

The investigation covered the period between June 1, 2011 and May 29, 2019.

The panel was headed by a former inspector general of police, MD Abubakar, and had diverse membership which included Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, Hon. Justice Nasiru Umar Gummi (rtd), Alh. (Dr.) Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi (Wamban Shinkafi), CP Mamman Anka (rtd), Mamuda Aliyu Maradun (ex-Permanent Secretary), Alh. Ibrahim Bawa (Fulani representative), Alh. Mohammed Adamu, Perm. Sec. Home Affairs, Committee Secretary, and Barr. Aliyu Abdullahi Gusau, Director Public Prosecution, Assistant Secretary.

Co-opted members were DIG Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe (rtd), DSP Hardo Abubakar Abdulkadir, Alh. Imrana Ibrahim Aliyu and Usman Saidu Dansadau.

Promise

When the committee was submitting its report in October 2019, Matawalle had promised to implement the recommendations, assuring that he would not be diverted by any sentiment.

The governor was said to be in the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari who was visiting the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly last week, and his spokespersons could not be reached to speak on the status of the report.

Origin

To be sure, the Zamfara banditry, according to the report, started in a village called Dansadau.

Although there are conflicting accounts of how banditry turned deadly in the state, everyone quoted by the report seemed to agree it all began in the Dansadau village where the Hausa who, in their quest for farmlands, reportedly indiscriminately encroached into cattle routes and grazing reserves and that triggered friction between them and Fulani residents.

A member of the committee, quoted by the report, narrated that about 19 years ago, a former District Head of Dansadau, Alh. Shafiu Salihu, ignited the problem after he authorized a self-defense outfit called ‘Yan Sakai’ to kill any thief even if it was a goat he stole.

The report went on: “He (committee member) cited an example where a person was discharged and acquitted by a law of court but on getting back to Dansadau, this freed man was killed together with his father.

“This member further informed the committee that, out of brutality and inhumanity of man-to-man, he (victim) was asked to dig the grave where he was eventually killed and buried.

“The Emir of Birnin Gwari was also high handed and further fuelled friction and disharmony when he directed his subjects and other vigilante groups or ‘Yan Sakai’ to kill anybody that was found to have stolen anything.

“According to this member, that ugly scenario where people were allowed to take the law into their hands compounded the problems of mistrust and rivalry among Hausa and Fulani. In the same development, he stated that one Alh. Ishe, a Fulani man who championed the cause of Fulani, made the Fulani in Dansadau Emirate to rally behind him.

“This member added that about five or six years after Alh. Ishe took a seemingly leadership of Fulani in the area made ‘Yan Sakai’ aggrieved.

“The rivalry between ‘Yan Sakai’ and Fulani in the area under the leadership of Alhaji Ishe became so intensified and eventually Alh. Ishe was killed and his corpse was put on his car and burnt to ashes.

“Thereafter, the Fulani started launching reprisal attacks around Sangeku and Kabaro villages.

“According to the member, close relations of Alh. Ishe emphatically stated that the life of Alh. Ishe is equivalent to 1, 000 souls of Hausa men.

“Therefore, from that time, Fulani in the area started attacking Hausa communities especially in the rural areas and ‘Yan Sakai’ killing Fulani indiscriminately”.

This narration corroborated the committee finding that the first armed banditry took place late in 2009 in Anka/Maru Local Government along Anka/Dansadau Emirates’ border.

Multiple causes

The report found several causes as responsible for the Zamfara banditry.

The remote causes include institutional failure and blatant betrayal of trust by unscrupulous political leaders, traditional rulers, security officers and judicial officers; poverty, unemployment, indolence and frustration that led many youths to drug abuse and involvement in crime; influx into and settlement of illegal alien Fulani from neighboring countries in Zamfara who initially behaved and related with both indigenous Fulani and Hausa harmoniously and peacefully but later exhibited their true criminal tendencies by starting small scale armed robbery, followed by rustling of non-Fulani and indigenous Fulani cattle, and when herds of the locals were grossly depleted, they had no option but to join the gang of criminals to make a living and a means of replenishing their lost herds of cattle; proliferation of traditional rulers at all levels by successive governors with no regard to rules and regulations/due process; proliferation and widespread consumption of dangerous drugs; and high level corruption on the part of bad eggs in the security, judicial and law enforcement services.

On immediate causes, the report found indiscriminate allocation of virgin forest, forest reserves, game reserves, Fulani grazing areas, home settlement as farmlands to farmers by successive Zamfara governments from May 29, 1999, a situation which pushed the Fulani in the state to the wall and left with no option but to take the law into their hands for survival; attacks and counter attacks, reprisal and counter reprisal between Fulani and farmers on one hand and Fulani v. ‘YAN SAKAI’ on the other; injustice by some traditional rulers in land dispute management; and indiscriminate release of suspects by security agencies played varying degree of roles.

The report is unsparing of some former governors over the roles they allegedly played during their tenures which escalated banditry in Zamfara

On the alleged role of former Governor Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura (May 1999 – May 2007), the report said: “When small scale armed robbery began to rear its ugly head in different parts of the state, he directed allocation of farmlands in government forest reserves along the major highways in order to create clear view for motorists and make it difficult for armed robbers to escape easily from the thick forest reserves.

“This policy sparked off agitation by farmers across the state for allocation of farmlands in forest reserves nearest to their respective areas.

“The governor bowed to the pressure, thus indiscriminate allocation of farmlands with no regard to Fulani interest began.

“Unscrupulous civil servants in the ministry of environment abused the policy, connived with some fraudulent traditional rulers and allocated almost as much as what was allocated officially by the state government”.

On former Governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi (May 2007 – May 2011), the report has this to say: “During his four-year tenure, fraudulent civil servants enjoyed a field day.

“They allocated farmlands in government forest reserves at will without the knowledge of government.

“He too allocated some farmlands especially to some high profile individuals both within and outside the state of between 100 to 700 hectares per person.

“191 beneficiaries include legislators, political appointees and party officials”.

In the case of former Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar (May 2011 – May 2019), the committee wrote: “The seed of security crisis planted during Governor Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura’s tenure watered and nursed all through germinated fully three months into the tenure of Gov. Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar.

“Gov. Abdul’Aziz Yari’s failure or refusal to address the security crisis in the state at a very early stage, however, provided a fertile ground and enabling environment for the influx of bandits from other parts of the country and neighboring countries.

“This situation complicated and up scaled the armed banditry in the state to the extent of covering the entire 14 local governments of the state and spilling over to neighboring states of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto.

“The governor’s nonchalant attitude and unflinching absence from the state provided golden opportunity to fraudulent security agencies, judicial officers and department of public prosecution in the ministry of justice to compromise the call of their statutory duties in favor of extraneous personal benefits. “Management of security is time bound and expensive.

“The constant absence of former Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari rendered security agencies orphans with no master to report to on urgent security intelligence issues and with no source of funding to avert impending attacks.

“Failure to attend to urgent and important memos on security matters from relevant ministries and departments of government was one of the factors responsible for the inability of government to tackle the security challenges.

“His administration, like those of his predecessors, allocated farmlands to big time politicians in government forest reserves which worsened the predicament of the Fulani access to grazing areas.

“His deliberate refusal to receive report from a committee he personally set up that worked for two years on ways of finding solution to the unprecedented security challenges in the state is the peak of lack of concern for lives and property in the state.

“The preponderance opinion of witnesses, complainants, traditional rulers, security agencies and civil servants showed lack of attention to security issues brought before the former governor including formal and informal intelligence.

“In spite of the human and material losses, it could literarily be said that no aid was provided to the surviving victims (IDPs) or families of the deceased.

“In spite of his ardent opposition to the Yan-Sakai group (self defense outfit) from the beginning of the security challenges up to October 2018, when 2019 elections were fast approaching, the state government formally registered and employed 8,500 of them as informal security outfit in the name of assisting the military in their fight against bandits but with the alleged motive of using them as political army to rig the 2019 elections in the state.

“This notorious group used their new status as a license to kill and extort people especially Fulani and political opponents in broad day light on market days throughout the state. “There is in fact literarily no witness or complainant that appeared before the committee that did not lament the atrocities of the self defense group.

“They were mainly responsible for the escalation of killings, kidnappings and extortions in Zamfara State from November 2018 (when they were registered and employed) to May 2019.

“One of them was alleged to have killed not less than 30 innocent people within the period under review”.

According to the report, while all the abracadabra of illegal land allocation was going on at the state level from 1999 to 2019, local government council chairmen connived with some traditional rulers to allocate as farmlands all available forest reserves, grazing areas, and Fulani settlements under their jurisdictions to few farmers, largely to politicians and high profile personalities in the affected localities.

“This is the last stroke that broke the camel’s back which pushed the Fulani to the wall with no option but fight the battle of their lives for survival”.

Charges

Arising from the alleged roles of the former governors in fuelling banditry in Zamfara, the report said: “The committee recommends that the immediate past Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar and his aides (immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Bello Dankande Gamji, and Alhaji Sani Gwamna Mayanchi) be arrested and prosecuted for alleged multiple culpable homicide due to his acts of commission and omission”.

The committee established that whereas some traditional rulers were complicit in the escalation of banditry in Zamfara, many were negligent in their responsibility of ensuring security in their respective domains.

In fact, were the recommendations of the committee to be implemented to the letter, no less than 15 of the 17 emirs in the state would be deposed.

The story of the alleged collaboration of the Emir of Maru and a District Head with bandits was told by the Zamfara SSG, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, in his testimony before the committee.

Startling revelations

Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Nagogo, also indicted the Emir of Karu in his testimony to the panel, according to the report.

The report quoted him as saying that in 2016 when CP Shettima Istifanus was the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police while he (Nagogo) was the Zamfara State Deputy Commissioner of Police (Finance and Inspection), then government appointed him as the Peace Ambassador and Chairman to head Amnesty Committee.

“According to him, he visited Dokani forest where he saw arms and ammunitions with over 1, 000 bandits. Buhari Daji surrendered 13 AK47 assault rifles and a rocket launcher as a sign of his confidence in the amnesty programme”, the report said.

“He stated that his concern was not to wage war against the bandits but to enter into dialogue and reconciliation because even if government should deploy one million soldiers, they would not be able to defeat the bandits as they were so many with sufficient and sophisticated weapons to counter any attack on them.

“The bandits had informants everywhere and could pay as much as N500, 000 to an informant.

“He then advised then Executive Governor of Zamfara State that the government should direct the release of Buhari’s wife.

“According to him, then State Director, State Service truncated all efforts put in place by the Amnesty Committee.

“In his view, the main cause of the crisis was the Yan Sakai, Civilian JTF and vigilante groups in that whenever a Fulani man was killed, Fulani would attack the whole village killing several people and leaving scores injured.

“Finally, when he met with the Ardos and other Fulani leaders, their complaints were that they were deprived of attending markets, mosques etc. and whenever Fulani were killed, government did not visit and console them.

“However, whenever the Hausas were killed, the government visited and consoled them”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/zamfara-report-on-banditry-two-ex-govs-indicted-another-for-trial-15-emirs-to-be-removed/amp/

As shared by Yusuf Anka:

"Security situation in some areas of Zamfara like Bakura Shinkafi Maru has deteriorated in the past few weeks bandits killed 13 Military, setting ablaze 5 of their vehicles & taking away 12 riffles in matumji in Shinkafi they chased away a police unit while attacking 8 communities."

"After sending a letter to the communities, last week 40 people were killed in bakura. The pains of people have only increased since this blackout started. Very little is being done to contain the situation."

DubaiLandLord2:
Zamfara report on banditry: Two ex-Govs indicted, another for trial, 15 Emirs to be removed

...10 ‘reckless’ military officers for court martial

It isn’t a list anyone would be proud of. In plain terms, it is a frightening list. But here it is in black and white: 6,319 persons arbitrarily and willfully killed; 3,672 kidnapped; N2, 805,049,748 paid as ransom; 6,483 widows and 25,050 orphans left behind by slain victims; 215,241 cows, 141,404 sheep, 20,600 of other animals (such as camels and donkeys) rustled; and 3,587 houses, 1,487 motor vehicles and motor cycles burnt.

Then a foot note to the list: Bandits operated 105 camps from which they launched deadly attacks on Zamfara, kill and steal the people’s properties at will; their leaders identified.

Grim figures, no doubt.

But this is just a small segment of the chilling report of the high wire banditry raging in Zamfara, but has now spilled into several states across the country, and consequently putting national security in jeopardy.

Other segments of the report include the indictment of several members of the traditional institution, top government officials and security forces.

As of the time Sunday Vanguard exclusively obtained the report last week, some of the men who engaged in the bloodletting Zamfara banditry had moved further North-West and North-Central, wreaking unprecedented havoc in Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger states.

No white paper on the far reaching recommendations of the committee that wrote the report has been issued two years after the report was submitted to Zamfara State government.

The slightest hint yet that something was being done on the implementation of the recommendations was made during the celebration of Democracy Day on June 12, 2021, about one and a half years after the 279 page report had been submitted, when Governor Mohammed Bello Matawalle said, in a broadcast, that he had demonstrated commitment to the implementation of the report with the suspension of the emirs of Maru, Dansadau and Zurmi, who, among several others, had been indicted in the report of the panel for allegedly colluding with bandits to kidnap, collect ransom or even kill their people.

The report was submitted in October 2019 but the recommendations have largely not been implemented.

Had it been implemented, at least one former governor should be facing trial for alleged murder while several emirs, not just three who have been suspended, would have been deposed.

10 army officers would also have faced court martial.

A source close to the Government House, Gusau, however, said a panel was raised to review the recommendations and report back to government.

The committee, tagged Zamfara Committee for Finding Solution to Armed Banditry in the State, had been raised by Matawalle on his assumption of office in May 2019 to investigate the banditry that had blown into full scale war between indigenous Hausa farmers and Fulani herders in the state.

Specifically, the terms of reference included investigation of willful killings, kidnappings, destruction of properties and other related matters in Zamfara and to make recommendations to the state government on the appropriate actions to take, and investigation of the remote and immediate factors responsible for the unprecedented and wide-spread killings, maiming, kidnappings, rape, cattle rustlings, destruction of crops/grains and displacement in the state.

The investigation covered the period between June 1, 2011 and May 29, 2019.

The panel was headed by a former inspector general of police, MD Abubakar, and had diverse membership which included Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, Hon. Justice Nasiru Umar Gummi (rtd), Alh. (Dr.) Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi (Wamban Shinkafi), CP Mamman Anka (rtd), Mamuda Aliyu Maradun (ex-Permanent Secretary), Alh. Ibrahim Bawa (Fulani representative), Alh. Mohammed Adamu, Perm. Sec. Home Affairs, Committee Secretary, and Barr. Aliyu Abdullahi Gusau, Director Public Prosecution, Assistant Secretary.

Co-opted members were DIG Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe (rtd), DSP Hardo Abubakar Abdulkadir, Alh. Imrana Ibrahim Aliyu and Usman Saidu Dansadau.

Promise

When the committee was submitting its report in October 2019, Matawalle had promised to implement the recommendations, assuring that he would not be diverted by any sentiment.

The governor was said to be in the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari who was visiting the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly last week, and his spokespersons could not be reached to speak on the status of the report.

Origin

To be sure, the Zamfara banditry, according to the report, started in a village called Dansadau.

Although there are conflicting accounts of how banditry turned deadly in the state, everyone quoted by the report seemed to agree it all began in the Dansadau village where the Hausa who, in their quest for farmlands, reportedly indiscriminately encroached into cattle routes and grazing reserves and that triggered friction between them and Fulani residents.

A member of the committee, quoted by the report, narrated that about 19 years ago, a former District Head of Dansadau, Alh. Shafiu Salihu, ignited the problem after he authorized a self-defense outfit called ‘Yan Sakai’ to kill any thief even if it was a goat he stole.

The report went on: “He (committee member) cited an example where a person was discharged and acquitted by a law of court but on getting back to Dansadau, this freed man was killed together with his father.

“This member further informed the committee that, out of brutality and inhumanity of man-to-man, he (victim) was asked to dig the grave where he was eventually killed and buried.

“The Emir of Birnin Gwari was also high handed and further fuelled friction and disharmony when he directed his subjects and other vigilante groups or ‘Yan Sakai’ to kill anybody that was found to have stolen anything.

“According to this member, that ugly scenario where people were allowed to take the law into their hands compounded the problems of mistrust and rivalry among Hausa and Fulani. In the same development, he stated that one Alh. Ishe, a Fulani man who championed the cause of Fulani, made the Fulani in Dansadau Emirate to rally behind him.

“This member added that about five or six years after Alh. Ishe took a seemingly leadership of Fulani in the area made ‘Yan Sakai’ aggrieved.

“The rivalry between ‘Yan Sakai’ and Fulani in the area under the leadership of Alhaji Ishe became so intensified and eventually Alh. Ishe was killed and his corpse was put on his car and burnt to ashes.

“Thereafter, the Fulani started launching reprisal attacks around Sangeku and Kabaro villages.

“According to the member, close relations of Alh. Ishe emphatically stated that the life of Alh. Ishe is equivalent to 1, 000 souls of Hausa men.

“Therefore, from that time, Fulani in the area started attacking Hausa communities especially in the rural areas and ‘Yan Sakai’ killing Fulani indiscriminately”.

This narration corroborated the committee finding that the first armed banditry took place late in 2009 in Anka/Maru Local Government along Anka/Dansadau Emirates’ border.

Multiple causes

The report found several causes as responsible for the Zamfara banditry.

The remote causes include institutional failure and blatant betrayal of trust by unscrupulous political leaders, traditional rulers, security officers and judicial officers; poverty, unemployment, indolence and frustration that led many youths to drug abuse and involvement in crime; influx into and settlement of illegal alien Fulani from neighboring countries in Zamfara who initially behaved and related with both indigenous Fulani and Hausa harmoniously and peacefully but later exhibited their true criminal tendencies by starting small scale armed robbery, followed by rustling of non-Fulani and indigenous Fulani cattle, and when herds of the locals were grossly depleted, they had no option but to join the gang of criminals to make a living and a means of replenishing their lost herds of cattle; proliferation of traditional rulers at all levels by successive governors with no regard to rules and regulations/due process; proliferation and widespread consumption of dangerous drugs; and high level corruption on the part of bad eggs in the security, judicial and law enforcement services.

On immediate causes, the report found indiscriminate allocation of virgin forest, forest reserves, game reserves, Fulani grazing areas, home settlement as farmlands to farmers by successive Zamfara governments from May 29, 1999, a situation which pushed the Fulani in the state to the wall and left with no option but to take the law into their hands for survival; attacks and counter attacks, reprisal and counter reprisal between Fulani and farmers on one hand and Fulani v. ‘YAN SAKAI’ on the other; injustice by some traditional rulers in land dispute management; and indiscriminate release of suspects by security agencies played varying degree of roles.

The report is unsparing of some former governors over the roles they allegedly played during their tenures which escalated banditry in Zamfara

On the alleged role of former Governor Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura (May 1999 – May 2007), the report said: “When small scale armed robbery began to rear its ugly head in different parts of the state, he directed allocation of farmlands in government forest reserves along the major highways in order to create clear view for motorists and make it difficult for armed robbers to escape easily from the thick forest reserves.

“This policy sparked off agitation by farmers across the state for allocation of farmlands in forest reserves nearest to their respective areas.

“The governor bowed to the pressure, thus indiscriminate allocation of farmlands with no regard to Fulani interest began.

“Unscrupulous civil servants in the ministry of environment abused the policy, connived with some fraudulent traditional rulers and allocated almost as much as what was allocated officially by the state government”.

On former Governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi (May 2007 – May 2011), the report has this to say: “During his four-year tenure, fraudulent civil servants enjoyed a field day.

“They allocated farmlands in government forest reserves at will without the knowledge of government.

“He too allocated some farmlands especially to some high profile individuals both within and outside the state of between 100 to 700 hectares per person.

“191 beneficiaries include legislators, political appointees and party officials”.

In the case of former Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar (May 2011 – May 2019), the committee wrote: “The seed of security crisis planted during Governor Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura’s tenure watered and nursed all through germinated fully three months into the tenure of Gov. Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar.

“Gov. Abdul’Aziz Yari’s failure or refusal to address the security crisis in the state at a very early stage, however, provided a fertile ground and enabling environment for the influx of bandits from other parts of the country and neighboring countries.

“This situation complicated and up scaled the armed banditry in the state to the extent of covering the entire 14 local governments of the state and spilling over to neighboring states of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto.

“The governor’s nonchalant attitude and unflinching absence from the state provided golden opportunity to fraudulent security agencies, judicial officers and department of public prosecution in the ministry of justice to compromise the call of their statutory duties in favor of extraneous personal benefits. “Management of security is time bound and expensive.

“The constant absence of former Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari rendered security agencies orphans with no master to report to on urgent security intelligence issues and with no source of funding to avert impending attacks.

“Failure to attend to urgent and important memos on security matters from relevant ministries and departments of government was one of the factors responsible for the inability of government to tackle the security challenges.

“His administration, like those of his predecessors, allocated farmlands to big time politicians in government forest reserves which worsened the predicament of the Fulani access to grazing areas.

“His deliberate refusal to receive report from a committee he personally set up that worked for two years on ways of finding solution to the unprecedented security challenges in the state is the peak of lack of concern for lives and property in the state.

“The preponderance opinion of witnesses, complainants, traditional rulers, security agencies and civil servants showed lack of attention to security issues brought before the former governor including formal and informal intelligence.

“In spite of the human and material losses, it could literarily be said that no aid was provided to the surviving victims (IDPs) or families of the deceased.

“In spite of his ardent opposition to the Yan-Sakai group (self defense outfit) from the beginning of the security challenges up to October 2018, when 2019 elections were fast approaching, the state government formally registered and employed 8,500 of them as informal security outfit in the name of assisting the military in their fight against bandits but with the alleged motive of using them as political army to rig the 2019 elections in the state.

“This notorious group used their new status as a license to kill and extort people especially Fulani and political opponents in broad day light on market days throughout the state. “There is in fact literarily no witness or complainant that appeared before the committee that did not lament the atrocities of the self defense group.

“They were mainly responsible for the escalation of killings, kidnappings and extortions in Zamfara State from November 2018 (when they were registered and employed) to May 2019.

“One of them was alleged to have killed not less than 30 innocent people within the period under review”.

According to the report, while all the abracadabra of illegal land allocation was going on at the state level from 1999 to 2019, local government council chairmen connived with some traditional rulers to allocate as farmlands all available forest reserves, grazing areas, and Fulani settlements under their jurisdictions to few farmers, largely to politicians and high profile personalities in the affected localities.

“This is the last stroke that broke the camel’s back which pushed the Fulani to the wall with no option but fight the battle of their lives for survival”.

Charges

Arising from the alleged roles of the former governors in fuelling banditry in Zamfara, the report said: “The committee recommends that the immediate past Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar and his aides (immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Bello Dankande Gamji, and Alhaji Sani Gwamna Mayanchi) be arrested and prosecuted for alleged multiple culpable homicide due to his acts of commission and omission”.

The committee established that whereas some traditional rulers were complicit in the escalation of banditry in Zamfara, many were negligent in their responsibility of ensuring security in their respective domains.

In fact, were the recommendations of the committee to be implemented to the letter, no less than 15 of the 17 emirs in the state would be deposed.

The story of the alleged collaboration of the Emir of Maru and a District Head with bandits was told by the Zamfara SSG, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, in his testimony before the committee.

Startling revelations

Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Nagogo, also indicted the Emir of Karu in his testimony to the panel, according to the report.

The report quoted him as saying that in 2016 when CP Shettima Istifanus was the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police while he (Nagogo) was the Zamfara State Deputy Commissioner of Police (Finance and Inspection), then government appointed him as the Peace Ambassador and Chairman to head Amnesty Committee.

“According to him, he visited Dokani forest where he saw arms and ammunitions with over 1, 000 bandits. Buhari Daji surrendered 13 AK47 assault rifles and a rocket launcher as a sign of his confidence in the amnesty programme”, the report said.

“He stated that his concern was not to wage war against the bandits but to enter into dialogue and reconciliation because even if government should deploy one million soldiers, they would not be able to defeat the bandits as they were so many with sufficient and sophisticated weapons to counter any attack on them.

“The bandits had informants everywhere and could pay as much as N500, 000 to an informant.

“He then advised then Executive Governor of Zamfara State that the government should direct the release of Buhari’s wife.

“According to him, then State Director, State Service truncated all efforts put in place by the Amnesty Committee.

“In his view, the main cause of the crisis was the Yan Sakai, Civilian JTF and vigilante groups in that whenever a Fulani man was killed, Fulani would attack the whole village killing several people and leaving scores injured.

“Finally, when he met with the Ardos and other Fulani leaders, their complaints were that they were deprived of attending markets, mosques etc. and whenever Fulani were killed, government did not visit and console them.

“However, whenever the Hausas were killed, the government visited and consoled them”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/zamfara-report-on-banditry-two-ex-govs-indicted-another-for-trial-15-emirs-to-be-removed/amp/

This is one of the major reasons I said this insecurity won't end with this regime, the people in power seem to protect the head or Godfather, and the tail feel they are untouchable because their head seems to be untouchable.
I remember the presidency making a statement, when agitation was high in the south west, about herdsmen and how it seems the police never arrests them, but detains the locals when they react; that the list of prosecuted and undergoing prosecution of herdsmen should be released, till now nothing has been done. Also certain statements by the CinC, before he won elections would make you think deep, if the presidency hands are even clean.

Whyem15:
APCs should fit that role with a reasonable quantity of MRAP. Maybe ration 3:1.
Proforce has nice APCs, even if it is the uparmored versions of the hilux to start with.
Making MRAP the standard will be too expensive and if we are being frank, the Army doesn't have such funds, especially when you consider their other needs like tanks, artilleries, fire support vehicles etc, the other corps such as engineering and signals also need heavy funding.

I reckon you mean LAV class when you're talking about APCs. But SA has shown us it is possible to have a motorized force all in MRAPs.

Also, I have heard rumors of troops complaining that the Ara is too heavy and too slow but 17tons, a max speed of 96km/hr (the guy in the video claimed Ara is 15tons with max speed of 110km but the website claims 17tons) , and an engine capacity of 400hp,is it too heavier or slower than most MRAPs in its class?
And mind you, Ara has Stanag level 3a and 3b ballistic and 4a and 4b mine protection.

The ARA 1 or 2? How can it be too slow when the average speed out in the bush is 40km/h.
In mobility, only the Chinese MRAPs in NA's inventory beat the Ara 2

**
Strictly my opinion

Whyem15:
APCs should fit that role with a reasonable quantity of MRAP. Maybe ration 3:1.
Proforce has nice APCs, even if it is the uparmored versions of the hilux to start with.
Making MRAP the standard will be too expensive and if we are being frank, the Army doesn't have such funds, especially when you consider their other needs like tanks, artilleries, fire support vehicles etc, the other corps such as engineering and signals also need heavy funding.
Also, I have heard rumors of troops complaining that the Ara is too heavy and too slow but 17tons, a max speed of 96km/hr (the guy in the video claimed Ara is 15tons with max speed of 110km but the website claims 17tons) , and an engine capacity of 400hp,is it too heavier or slower than most MRAPs in its class?
And mind you, Ara has Stanag level 3a and 3b ballistic and 4a and 4b mine protection.

Ara 1 is 17tons
Ara 2 is 15tons

Ten abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna, have been released, after more than 11 weeks in captivity.

The students were abducted on July 5.

Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said the 10 students were released on Sunday afternoon and were reunited with their parents.

Hayab expressed optimism that the 11 students still in captivity would soon be released.

“10 more students of Baptist High School were released this afternoon. We have 11 now with bandits. Thanking all Nigerians for their prayers and support. Trusting God that the rest will be released very soon,” he said in a message.

SOURCE

Whyem15:
APCs should fit that role with a reasonable quantity of MRAP. Maybe ration 3:1.
Proforce has nice APCs, even if it is the uparmored versions of the hilux to start with.
Making MRAP the standard will be too expensive and if we are being frank, the Army doesn't have such funds, especially when you consider their other needs like tanks, artilleries, fire support vehicles etc, the other corps such as engineering and signals also need heavy funding.
Also, I have heard rumors of troops complaining that the Ara is too heavy and too slow but 17tons, a max speed of 96km/hr (the guy in the video claimed Ara is 15tons with max speed of 110km but the website claims 17tons) , and an engine capacity of 400hp,is it too heavier or slower than most MRAPs in its class?
And mind you, Ara has Stanag level 3a and 3b ballistic and 4a and 4b mine protection.

A lighter vehicle must not necessary mean a lower protection class. I would opt for a 3:2 ratio fleet mix if achievable.

SuperSixSeven:
A lighter vehicle must not necessary mean a lower protection class. I would opt for a 3:2 ratio fleet mix if achievable.

Exactly what I was going to post

Bandits are now using the network service of Niger Republic to coordinate attacks, according to Aminu Almustapha Gobir, member representing Sabon Birni North Constituency in the Sokoto House of Assembly.

As part of measures to check banditry, the Nigerian government had shut down telecommunication services in three states – Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina.

This had reportedly cut off communication between bandits and their informants.

But as a means of circumventing the security measure, bandits have now resorted to using the telecom service of the neighbouring country which shares border with Nigeria through Sokoto.

Gobir said he received a threat from one of the bandits who using Nigerien network service.

“The bandit was threatening to lead his gang to attack me and my community,” he told Daily Trust.

Gobir also confirmed the attack on a military base in Sabo Birni Local Government area of the state.

Daily Trust had reported how bandits raided the military base, killing security personnel and setting patrol vans on fire.

“It is true that they attacked a military base at Dama and killed about 12 of them while many are still missing.”

“This is why I faulted the government for shutting GSM network in the eastern part of the state without a serious military operation taking place there.

“The bandits are now using Nigerien network to communicate within themselves and perpetrate their heinous activities in the area.

“I expect our Governor to provide Divisional Police Officers and the military deployed to Sokoto East with Thuraya phone which could enable them to communicate within themselves and with their superior officers if they need help since there is no GSM network.

“This is what the Governor of Zamfara did and it’s paying off positively,” he said

The spokesman of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Yahaya Ngulde, could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

But the Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, said he was not aware of the attack on the military base.

He did not also comment on the use of Nigerien telecoms service.

However, the Commissioner for Carriers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd), confirmed the attack on the military base but that he was not sure on the number of death.

On the bandits using foreign networks to coordinate attacks, he said that could be possible because of the proximity with Niger Republic.

https://dailytrust.com/telecom-ban-bandits-now-using-nigerien-networks-to-coordinate-attacks-lawmaker

A large group of Boko Haram jihadists have moved out of their base in the North-East to join forces with criminal gangs in the North-West, where they are engaged in weapons training and kidnapping, military sources told AFP on Friday.

Boko Haram’s Islamic State-allied rivals have been consolidating their grip on the North-East after the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, this year in a major shift in Nigeria’s 12-year insurgency battle.

Islamic State West Africa Province has been moving into Boko Haram’s territory, fighting Shekau loyalists, assimilating some or forcing others to surrender to the armed forces, security sources said.

Details of the Boko Haram fighters moving could be the latest sign of cooperation between jihadists and criminal armed groups in the North-West, who raid and loot villages and conduct mass abductions for ransom.

Two military sources said a faction loyal to Shekau based in Borno State had dispatched two commanders and 250 fighters to the Rijana forests in northwestern Kaduna State.

Both commanders are allied with Bakoura Buduma, a Boko Haram chief who remains loyal to Shekau and whose fighters are resisting ISWAP consolidation, according to security sources.

“They are the masterminds behind some of the abductions in the North-West,” one of the military sources said.

Both sources said Boko Haram militants were also training the gangs, known locally as bandits, in the use of anti-aircraft guns and explosives and other weapons.

Military spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. Kaduna State officials also did not immediately reply to a request for confirmation.

A Nigerian security agency communiqué earlier this month warned that a Boko Haram commander and foot soldiers were moving across the country from their base in Borno State to Kaduna State in the North-West.

Analysts said there had been growing signs that jihadists and bandit gangs were developing deeper ties where both stood to gain: Jihadists supply arms while profiting from criminal activity.

North-West Nigeria has long been plagued by bandit groups, but this year, attacks and kidnappings have surged.

https://punchng.com/boko-haram-fighters-train-bandits-in-anti-aircraft-gun-use-military-sources/

The Army needs to carry out a massive operation in Guzamala and Kukawa. If they don’t do this, the Gajiram-Monguno road will continually be a death trap.

I heard some Naval personnel on their way to Monguno got wind of an ISWAP ambush and returned back.

I also got a sad news that my Favorite JTF dude in Monguno Called “Dogo” was murdered in the Ambush a week ago. Rest Easy Dogo a very Selfless JTF volunteer in Monguno.

Scores of Terrorist killed as the troops repelled the attack by suspected ISWAP members at Babban Gida, headquarters of Tarmuwa LGA, Yobe State this evening. this follow after a fail attack on a nigeria navy convoy yesterday

JOSCOFELIX:
Scores of Terrorist killed as the troops repelled the attack by suspected ISWAP members at Babban Gida, headquarters of Tarmuwa LGA, Yobe State this evening. this follow after a fail attack on a nigeria navy convoy yesterday

Where was the Navy convoy heading to?

SamuelAnyawu:
Where was the Navy convoy heading to?

it was a convoy of both navy and army, it was heading to maidugri for all commander lecture. when iswap plan an ambush on the convoy. the convoy was force to open fire at every 10mm to the bush.

JOSCOFELIX:
it was a convoy of both navy and army, it was heading to maidugri for all commander lecture. when iswap plan an ambush on the convoy. the convoy was force to open fire at every 10mm to the bush.

How did they know of troops movements.

GeneralFarouq:
How did they know of troops movements.

You took this out of my mouth.....that's the big question that have been begging for answer!!

We still have a long way to go... If every troop movement is know to the terrorist then we are all in soup...!!! The military need to do in house cleaning else none of them would be safe....!!!

Valkrie:
You took this out of my mouth.....that's the big question that have been begging for answer!!

We still have a long way to go... If every troop movement is know to the terrorist then we are all in soup...!!! The military need to do in house cleaning else none of them would be safe....!!!

They don't need insiders to know about troops movement when they know where the troops are camped and the routes leading to those camps, all they need is someone stationed close to the base to give them a call whenever there is a convoy moving out of any base and they have some minutes to prepare their ambush.

JOSCOFELIX:
it was a convoy of both navy and army, it was heading to maidugri for all commander lecture. when iswap plan an ambush on the convoy. the convoy was force to open fire at every 10mm to the bush.

Kai everywhere hot.

Valkrie:
You took this out of my mouth.....that's the big question that have been begging for answer!!

We still have a long way to go... If every troop movement is know to the terrorist then we are all in soup...!!! The military need to do in house cleaning else none of them would be safe....!!!

They got their men living in communities. BH ain’t spirits.

SamuelAnyawu:
They got their men living in communities. BH ain’t spirits.

And unless each base continously launch aggressive patrols with reasonable platforms to clear out terrorists from their area of operation, the terrorists will continue to be a step ahead of them.

Whyem15:
They don't need insiders to know about troops movement when they know where the troops are camped and the routes leading to those camps, all they need is someone stationed close to the base to give them a call whenever there is a convoy moving out of any base and they have some minutes to prepare their ambush.

This takes us back to the argument of investing massively in drone surveillance.
Every busy route should have drone hovering at least 80km interval, at least twice a day.
It's going to be expensive doing this with manned aircraft. Radio Comms is also going to be key.

Let MI35Ms or UCAVs ride shotgun for military convoys. The flights should then morph into normal daily ISR flights.

Progressively create a traffic light type of classification of safe corridors based on info from patrols, spotters, ISR flights and analytical risk assessments.
Only red and amber areas should take maximum attention. That way you don't dissipate resources patrolling safe zones at the detriment of hazardous zones that insurgents are just moving to.

There should also be dedicated quick response aircraft to hunt and kill members of ISWAP ambush parties immediately after an event.

RiceProducers:
Let MI35Ms or UCAVs ride shotgun for military convoys. The flights should then morph into normal daily ISR flights.

Progressively create a traffic light type of classification of safe corridors based on info from patrols, spotters, ISR flights and analytical risk assessments.
Only red and amber areas should take maximum attention. That way you don't dissipate resources patrolling safe zones at the detriment of hazardous zones that insurgents are just moving to.

There should also be dedicated quick response aircraft to hunt and kill members of ISWAP ambush parties immediately after an event.

Effective communication is needed, we need enough radio's in the Battlefield.

cutievik:
Effective communication is needed, we need enough radio's in the Battlefield.

That has been included in the supplementary budget, and I think most of the new equipments are coming with communication equipment.

Some solution to some of this ambush wahala some people dey suggest here is not feasible

How many MI35Ms or UCAVs we get sef, wey dem go always dey available for military convoys

How many convoys dey move daily and for how long dem dey move sef?

Nigeria air force will get new rader system

they was an heavy airstrike early hour of today this happen between 12 to 1am by the nigeria airforce . a large number of iswap were killed in airstrike

SamuelAnyawu:
Kai everywhere hot.

walahi

JOSCOFELIX:
Nigeria air force will get new rader system

What type / make. IADS radar or ground radar for ground surveillance and fighting?

RiceProducers:
What type / make. IADS radar or ground radar for ground surveillance and fighting?

i saw this in there supplementary budget it is an air defence radar .

WoeBetide666:
[s]Please get out of here, idiot. If not for the military would you open your wide mouth and be typing typing this trash in the comfort of your home. Go to Borno and ask them about Buhari tUrNiNg NiGeRiAnS AgAiNsT tHe MiLiTaRy

[/s]
Unruly behaviour is not allowed here.
Very over sensitive beings

JOSCOFELIX:
i saw this in there supplementary budget it is an air defence radar .

İ am only 50% sure but it might be a complete Hong Qi 9 AA missile system.. but Nigeria will call it an ordinary HT233 radar system