About 5000 people from some villages across Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State are said to have fled their homes as bandits allegedly ransacked their communities in retaliation over the ongoing military onslaught in the area.

Daily Trust reported that fighter jets have been bombarding suspected hideouts of the bandits in Kagara forest around Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas. Some of the bandits were said to have fled to nearby villages during the onslaught and later regrouped and attacked the other villages.

Daily Trust learnt that the bandits killed six people, carted away yet to be ascertained number of livestock, and looted shops, but there was no report of an abduction. One of the fleeing villagers told Daily Trust that the communities affected were Bafarawa, Arune, Suruddudu, Sabon Gari Lugu, Tsillawa, Gwalama and Dan Adama villages, all in Isa Local Government Area.

According to the villager, who pleaded not to be named, two persons were killed in Tsillawa and Suruddudu villages and three in Gebe village. He added that all the villages were now deserted as the inhabitants, estimated at about 5000, have fled to either Isa or Shinkafi town in Zamfara State, while others were staying with their relatives in other places.

Another source revealed to our reporter that, “The air raid would have been more damaging on the bandits had there been ground troops to mop them up while fleeing the forest.

“When they were threatening to come back and retaliate, we thought it was just a mere empty threat, until around midnight on Tuesday when they came in their hundreds on motorcycles and starting ransacking our villages,” he said. “They killed about six people, carted away livestock and looted shops,” he added.

Another source told our reporter that the bandits also blocked and killed many motorists and passengers along Isa road on Tuesday night.

The Information Officer of Isa Local Government Area, Surajo Isa, who confirmed the development, said some of the fleeing villagers were taking refuge in Sardauna and Maitandu primary schools in Isa town, while the sole administrator of the area had provided them with food.

The Commissioner for Careers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd), who is from the area, could not be reached for comments as he did not respond to calls.

Similarly, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Muhammad Sadiq, and the acting Public Relations Officer of 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Hammaga could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

However, the acting spokesman of 199 Composite Group of the Nigerian Airforce, Flight Lieutenant Tambari, promised to call back after getting clearance to speak to the press but he was yet to do so at press time.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, who was in Sokoto to flag-off the second phase of Air Interdiction operation in the state last Monday, assured that the operation would be sustained until the state, and the entire Northwest region are rid of banditry.

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* I’m not perturbed – Ajayi

There are indications that lawmakers in Ondo State loyal to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and those backing his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, are heading for a showdown as a plot to impeach the deputy thickens, Daily Trust reports.

Ajayi had last month dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is set to contest in the forthcoming governorship election in the state against Governor Oluwarotmi Akeredolu.

Already, 14 out of the 26 members of the parliament have commenced impeachment process against Ajayi and also addressed a notice to that effect to the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun. The anti-Ajayi lawmakers are hinging their stance on “Gross misconduct, financial recklessness, abuse of office with actions likely to bring down Ondo State Government” and four other allegations listed in the notice.

Those against Ajayi include Hon. Aderoboye Samuel (Odigbo II); Hon. Oladiji Olamide (Ondo East LGA); Hon. Festus Adefiranye (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo); Hon. Adeyemi Olayemi (Owo II); Hon. Mohammed Taofik (Akoko North West II); Hon. Oluwole Ogunnolasuyi (Owo I) and Hon. Borokini Toluwani (Akure South I).

Others are: Hon. Gbegudu Ololade (Okitipupa 2); Hon. Abiodun Faleye (Akure North); Hon. Felemu Olusegun; Hon. Akintomide Akinrogunde (Okitipupa I), Hon. Towase Kuti (Akoko South-East); Akinruntan Abayomi (Ilaje I) and Hon. Oluyede Olushola (Ose). However, nine other lawmakers, in a separate notice, have distanced themselves from the impeachment processes, while three others are yet to make their stand known.

The nine members who kicked against the impeachment are Iroju Ogundeji (deputy speaker), Jamiu Suleiman, Rasheed Elegbeleye, Tomide Akinrinbido, Samuel Ademola, Favour Tomemowo, Festus Akingbaso, Adewale Williams and Torhukerhijo Success. In the letter, the members said, “We the underlisted elected honourable members of the 9th session of the Ondo State House of Assembly hereby append our signatures to clarify that we have resolved not to partake in the impeachment process of the Ondo State Deputy-Governor, H.E. Alfred Agboola Ajayi.”


“In view of the above, we hereby bring to the notice of Mr Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele David Oleyelogun, the entire honourable members of the Ondo State House of Assembly and the general public that we do not support the impeachment process and would not want to be associated with it based on personal conviction.”

The speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, directed the clerk of the House, Bode Adeyelu, to serve the deputy governor with the impeachment notice. He said the constitution empowered the assembly to investigate the allegation and proceed on impeachment if necessary on the deputy governor, adding that it could be done if necessary constitutional requirements were met.

Hon. Jamiu Maito, the Majority Leader, subsequently moved a motion for the adjournment of sitting to today and was seconded by Oluyede Fayide, representing Ose Constituency.

Present at the assembly were Mr Victor Olabimtan, special adviser on Political Matters to the state governor and Mr Ade Adetimehin, the state Chairman of the APC in the state.