- Kill scores of bandits, freed hostages
- Niger is safe for Investors at last, says government
From John Adams, Minna
After years of Bandits activities in Niger state with attendants loose of lives and properties, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel as local hunters in the state have stormed the forests, and have launch a full scale war against the Bandits, killing several of them and a number of hostages released.
The Hunters numbering well over 500 were drawn from about 50 communities across four local government areas of the state with various dangerous local weapons and stormed the forests around Allawa, Pandogari, Kukoki, Manta and other troubled communities bordering Brinin Gwari in Kaduna.
The operation which our correspondent exclusive gathered, began last week with full mobilisation by the state government is beginning to yield results as scores of the Bandits have been neutralized and some hostages set free.
A reliable source close to Pandogari community told our correspondent that since the operation began a week ago, both farming and commercial activities hitherto suspended by the people due to the activities of the gunmen have resumed in full scale, saying that “everybody is now going about with their normal businesses without any molestation”.
According to him, “I can tell you that since these Hunters entered the forests in this area, peace has returned to the communities around here. Before now people don’t go to their farms and market was suspended but last week Wednesday people went to the market and everywhere was peaceful.
“So far some people that were kidnapped by these bandits for almost two to three months have been rescued. They also killed some Bandits during gun exchange in the bush. The Hunters have vowed not to leave the forests until the Bandits are cleared, and I can tell you too that they (Hunters) are well prepared for them (Bandits).
The latest development is coming barely two weeks after a group of Bandits stormed a local market in Allawa and burnt down two trucks carrying food items to the market. Also burnt were about 50 motorcycles belonging to the villagers and a number of people were abducted during the raid.
It was gathered the gunmen equally ambushed a Military vehicle while on its way to respond to a distress call and burnt it down but no details about the occupants of the vehicle.
In a similar vein, a Joint Security Taskforce code named special hunters, operating in communities in Shiroro, Munya and Paikoro local government areas of the state have taken the war to the Bandits enclaves in the area and successfully dislodged them from their various camps.
After one week of combing the forests in the area, no fewer than 12 hostages have been rescued and about 250 cattle recovered from the gunmen. Scores of the Bandits were said to have been killed in and encounter with the special hunters.
It was also gathered that a 40 kilometer road linking Niger state with Kaduna state through Sarkin pawa in Munya local government area which was abandoned for over 10 years now due to the activities of the Bandits have been reopened to commuters.
Our source further disclosed that the only route hitherto used by the gunmen to invade communities in Tshohon Kbula, Zagzaga, Pole wire, Fukan Gwari, Beni, Adunu, Ishau and other adjourning villages has been taken over by the special hunters and equally established their camp there with full support from the state and Munya local government.
Reacting to this development, the Special Adviser to the Governor, Umar Bago on Public Private Partnership (PPP) and former commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa described the onslaught against the bandits as a well come development and good news to investors and those who are willing to partner with state government in the areas of development.
Vatsa who commended the efforts of the security agents and the local hunters for taken the fight to the Bandits enclaves, pointed out that the successes recorded so far by these “brave Hunters” has brought a great relief not only to the effected communities but the government that is desperately looking for investors to help realise its dreams of a “new Niger”.
According to the former publicity secretary of the APC in the state, in the last 10 years, the activities of the Bandits have not only affected food production in the state as farmers were forced to abandoned their farms, it have affected government businesses as investors have stayed away from the state for fear of being kidnapped.
“As a government we thank God for these courageous and historic feet by these local hunters and other security agents operating in the forests who have brought some relief to these communities after years of massacre, rape and destruction of properties. It is great sigh of relief to the people, and Niger state is saved for investors at last.
“For over 10 years a particular road which serves as the shortest route to Kaduna through Sarkin pawa in Munya local government has been reopened by the Joint Security Taskforce and the people can travel freely on the road now. With the ongoing full scale war against these criminals by the local hunters around Allawa and Pandogari, the Birin Gwari road too will soon be safe for travellers.
“I hope and I pray that the security agents will launch a similar war against them from Kaduna state axis so that they will not have a hiding place. That is the only way that this war against these Bandits can be won because when you drive them from Niger, they moved to Kaduna state and when the heat is on them from Kaduna state, they migrate to Niger state.”