The unpatriotic activities of some citizens, particularly those living in areas ravaged by terrorism and banditry in the country’s north, are blamed for the escalation of banditry in the northwestern geopolitical zone.

This is despite the military and other security agencies’ unwavering efforts to mitigate the threats posed by these criminals to food security, social economic activities, and the safety of people and property.

Local authorities and military sources confirm that the bandits and terrorists are foreigners of Fulani ethnicity who usually enter the coun­try through Nigeria’s unmanned bor­ders to commit heinous crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, violent extremism, and banditry.

This comes as military intelli­gence sources and other stakehold­ers, including local government au­thorities and traditional rulers, claim that the threats and noxious activities of local collaborators and informants within the affected communities are impeding the decisive and precise military operation against bandits in the areas in question.

Residents of Bungudu Local Government Area (LGA) of Zam­fara state have allegedly accused the Emir of Kwatarkwashi, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Garba Ah­mad Bunu, of having “suspicious re­lationships with bandits kingpins” as troops attached to Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West geopolitical zone continue to wage war against bandits and terrorists operating in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and the neighbouring Niger Republic.

He was also accused of “keeping weapons for the bandits,” which they usually come for in the early hours of the night in exchange for his share of the ransom collected from kidnapped victims.

According to sources within the community who requested anonym­ity due to the sensitive nature of the case, Alhaji Bunu was appointed Emir by the then-Governor of Zam­fara State, now the Minister of State Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawal­le on June 14, 2022, only three days af­ter the death of the then-emir on June 9, 2022, at the age of 94 years after a prolonged illness, after spending 61 years on the throne.

“The current Emir, Alhaji Garba Ahmad Bunu, has had a suspicious relationship with the bandits’ king­pins. He was said to have been in a relationship with notorious bandit gang leader Buharin Daji before be­ing killed by an NAF air strike in late 2022.

“He also had a relationship with another notorious bandit gang lead­er, Dogo Gide, who was also recently killed by NAF air strikes in March of 2024. The Emir has also had a rela­tionship with notorious bandit gang leader Ado Aleiro, who operates and controls Birnin Magaji LGA and Kauran Namoda LGA, two of the four LGAs in Zamfara State that are the epicentres of banditry.

“The other two LGAs, Zurmi and Shinkafi, are controlled by Bello Tur­ji, a notorious bandit gang leader. The Emir of Kwatarkwashi granted Ado Aleiro, the bandit kingpin, a tradi­tional title in his emirate, causing community unrest and disturbance.

“Maibiredi TV in Gasau conduct­ed a one-on-one interview with the bandit leader and discussed the is­sues surrounding it.”

Locals were also said to have near­ly burned down his house if security forces had not intervened due to his suspicious relationship with bandit leaders. It is worth noting that “all the locals know him as a bandit col­laborator.”

While answering questions from Defence Correspondents led by Deputy Director, Defence Media Op­erations (DMO) Brigadier General Muhammad Dahiru Abumawashi at his palace, Alhaji Bunu admitted that “there are informants who sab­otage the efforts of government and security agencies.”

He stated, “We have them in com­munities, some traditional rulers are informants, and there are bad eggs in security agencies. When we talk about informants, we do not just mean members of communities.

“Recently, some traditional rulers were arrested for working with ban­dits. Some were motivated by greed, while others had no choice because their communities had been overrun by bandits.

The Emir also stated that “no place in his community is occupied by ban­dits,” even though they share a border with communities being terrorised by bandits.

While explaining how he man­ages to live peacefully in his palace surrounded by hostile neighbouring communities, Alhaji Bunu stated, “I have told my people, including wom­en, to defend themselves against the bandits.”

“We believe that one only dies once. When our community is un­der attack, we do everything we can to defend ourselves before the mili­tary arrives.

On how to end banditry in the North, the Emir stated, “There must be equality. The political class has de­nied Nigerians, particularly the poor, access to necessities. Some politicians without university degrees earn sig­nificantly more than graduates, as do soldiers who sacrifice their comfort for the sake of the country.

“The country’s resources are un­evenly distributed among its citizens. The divide between the political class and ordinary citizens is too wide. The challenge of insecurity in Zamfara State and northern Nigeria is primar­ily caused by a disagreement between Fulanis and Hausas over cattle rear­ing, but the situation has deteriorated over time due to the presence of gold and other mineral resources. CONTINUE READING

Source: Independent Nigeria