How Cattle Rustlers Killed My Uncle

For the residents of Matso-matso in Jibia Local Government area of Katsina state, the morning of Sunday the 7^th of August 2016 was anything but bright. As early as three o clock they began to hear the sound of gunshots. Although these sounds are not new to the villagers, they strike fear whenever they are heard; either one or more people will die or some animals will be rustled, but usually the latter. The former is normally the case when a farmer resisted or when, like in the present case, the bandits are on a special mission.

The mission of the bandits on Sunday night was obviously one; to kill the Imam of the village and his friend. The Imam, who incidentally doubles as my maternal uncle, has been outspoken against criminal activities in the area always organizing prayers and encouraging his people to stand firm on the way of crime. Their first point of call was his house. They shot him eleven times and one of the bullets brushed over the face of his 10-year old son who was with him in the same room. The boy sustained an injury that was treated, but he survived. Next, they moved to the house of his friend in which they found no human presence. The man and his family had vividly escaped into the surrounding bush after hearing the sound of AK-47. More than most of us who live in the comfort of our safe havens in the city, these villagers can now distinguish between the sounds of different guns with confidence. The criminals did not waste any time before they burnt down the house and immediately left the hamlet. However, they did not leave for good. They invaded surrounding hamlets and embarked on a raping spree. At least I was shown a young woman that was seriously beaten by the bandits when she resisted the act. Of course, for cultural reasons women in this area and their families will not disclose details of rape when they are victims.

Since there is no security presence in the area despite Government propaganda, the villagers used the antiquated steps-tracing method of determining the destination of a thief. They successfully traced the steps of one of the bandits to a house in one of the hamlets and caught the head of the house. It was after they arrested him and some youth were insisting that he be lynched that the police arrived from the local government headquarters some 12 kilometres away. The only thing they did in the village together with the soldiers that came with them was to rescue the suspect. They left with him after about 30 minutes. Contrary to expectation, the combined security team of Police, Army and DSS did not conduct any thorough forensic investigation. For example, they did not visit the scene of the murder nor interviewed the victim’s wife who was with him when the murder took place. It was even some of the villagers that brought them sample of the ammunition recovered from the scene, but they never asked for it. Furthermore, the security men did not visit the hamlets in which women were allegedly raped.

The local Government team comprising of the Acting Chairman, Local party chairman and other local politicians later came and advised the defenceless villagers to be vigilant and engage in local policing. However, no attempt was made by the authorities to give medical treatment to the alleged victims of rape.

Liman Danlami is not the first victim of criminal attack in the village. Within the past one year Matso-matso has been attacked at least five times during which over 100 cows were taken and three people killed. In all cases the security people only arrived when concerned individuals within Jibia town called them and they generally come when the dust has already settled.

Other villages that have been under incessant harassment in the area include Zandam, Kwari, Dan hako, ‘yar lumo, Garin Kerau, ‘yar gamji and Shekewa. All of these communities fall within three wards in Jibia and Batsari Local Government Areas. In fact, hardly will two weeks pass without a case of banditry, cattle-rustling or other forms of criminality in the area. Dear reader should not assume that the villagers have no clue as to who these criminals are and where they come from. It is however the fear of what has just happened to this Imam that has made the people to seal their mouths.

While these criminalities are taking place in remote locations, there are not less than 10 checkpoints of gun-wielding soldiers, police, Immigration and Customs men on the 42 kilometre long Katsina – Jibia road. The military operation recently launched in Gusau only served as a notice for the robbers to restrategize and safely continue with their business.

In Katsina the Government is fiddling away as the people live under constant fear. For example, none of the three governors that governed over the past 17 years went beyond local government headquarters and villages on the highway to see how these innocent, defenceless farmers are doing. This is true even when there is a massive attack like the one that almost displaced the entire Shekewa community two months ago.  In Abuja it is a tale of budget padding, prosecution of looters, assurances of better future, etc. But for my people in the villages, all these do not make any sense. Their concern is the security of their lives and property.