Facts about banditry/kidnapping in Jibia/Batsari Local Government areas

When we talk about security challenges in Jibia and Batsari LGAs, many people do not seem to understand what we are talking about. A good number of people believe that we are some elements sponsored to spoil the good name of Buhari administration. Another misconception is that security operatives are working round the clock to bring this problem to an end. 

These are some facts people should know about the picture of what is currently on the ground in those areas.

1. There is no single known foreigner involved in banditry, kidnapping or cattle rustling in our areas.
2. Many of the bandits, their leaders and informants are well known to the locals.
3. Locals shut their mouths to save their lives. When I heard that His Excellency the President was going to meet with local victims I thought it was going to be one on one with the villagers in the absence of state government officials and local security chiefs, as that is the only way he would hear the dirty truth from his local people.
4. In some areas, heads of thieves are paid some fixed amounts by farmers to allow them carry out farming activities on their farmlands and protect them from other gangs.
5. The peace initiative in Zamfara state only aggravated insecurity in Katsina. It is widely believed that Zamfara state now serves as a hideout for the bandits from where they come into Katsina state, launch attacks and go back.
6. Most of the time security forces arrive scenes of attack long after the attackers have left. There is nothing like 24 hour surveillance to forestall bandits’ attacks.
7. Security forces are only visible on highways. For example, Katsina – Jibia road which 42 km long has 17 checkpoints of armed soldiers, police, customs and immigration men. In deep areas where crimes take place almost on daily basis there is no presence of security personnel.

My appeal to people like us who have confidence in PMB’s leadership and especially those close to him is to mount pressure on His Excellency to take consistent steps to bring this major problem to an end. Peace is like fuel. Once it is available the masses do not care whether it is locally refined, imported or made available by whatever other means by Government.