Bandits impose restrictions on Niger community, stop people from accessing market

From John Adams, Minna

The community said the bandits have stopped them from accessing the only market in the area, the Saturday market in Zumba and threatening to kill any member of the community who violates the instruction, until their condition is met.

The bandits were said to have imposed the restriction of movement on the people, disallowing them from going to the market following they (bandits) said was the continuous seizure of cattle suspected to be a stolen ones from members of the community by the security agents who usually lay siege in the market very Saturday.

It was gathered from some of the members of the community who spoke to our correspondent that the bandits said until the security agents stopped arresting the people and their animals in the market, they (bandits) will not allow any members of the community to attend the market with their goods to sell.

According to a source close to Zumba market, who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted, any cow found in the market, the owner is promptly arrested by the security agents and he will be asked to pay between N100, 000 to N200, 000 to secure his bail and the cow confiscated.

“This is what happens in market here every market day. It is not only cow, even goats and sheep are found in the market, the security agents will arrest the owner and tell him that the animal is a stolen one, and he will be arrested and taken to the station where he will be asked to give statement and later asked to pay between N100, 000 to N200, 000 for bail, and the animal will be taken away from him.

“Because of the banditry activities in our communities here in Shiroro local government, every animal found in the market, the security people will say it is a stolen one, whether anybody reported a stolen animal to them or not, this is our present dilemma right now ”, our source added.

He however disclosed that it is possible that some of the animals are stolen ones, but added that “that is not enough reason to be arresting every person with either goat, sheep or cow in the market and asked them to bail themselves with N100,000 or N200,000 depending on the power or negotiation”, he submitted.

This development, the people said, has put the entire community in a very difficult situation as their economic lives have been seized by the bandits following their (bandits) refusal to allow them access the markets.

It was further gathered that in alternative, the bandits have asked the people switch to Kwakwada market in Kaduna state, a distance of about 50 kilometers by foot since no vehicle could access the community, a condition the people rejected due to the distance.

The contentious Saturday market in Zumba is about 30 munities boat ride across river Shiroro from the community which is more accessible to the people.

Speaking to our correspondent on phone, the District Head of Kuduro, Mr. Auta Doma confirmed the development, saying that the story of his people is that of a man who finds himself between the devil and the deep blue sea.

He pointed out that for two months now, the people have been barred from attending the Zumba market by the bandits, the only closest market to the community, as they (bandits) insisted that until the security agents stopped arresting people with animals, they will not allow the community access the market.

Speaking to our correspondent in Hausa, the district head said that the people are being treated like a scapegoats, adding that “we don’t have the power to stop the security agents from arresting people with suspected animals in the market and the bandits said until the arrest is stopped, they will not allow anybody to access the market.

“Our economic and commercial lives have been seized from us. The entire community is in a seriously dilemma and we don’t know what to do at the moment that is why we calling on the government to help us and rescue us from this unfortunate situation”, he lamented.

When asked if the bandits usually give the villagers cattle or other animals to go and sell in the market and bring the proceed to them, the district head said, “that is what I cannot say but if the bandits give you cow to go and sell in the market and bring the proceeds, what will you do, will you say no?

“We are at their mercy so whatever they tell you, you must obey them but I am not saying that all the cattle and the other animals in the market are stolen ones. The situation right now is a helpless one, we cannot violate their order and we don’t have the power to stop the security people from arresting suspected stolen cattle in the market”.

When contacted, the commissioner for internal security, Retired Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed neither confirmed nor denied the story but said the state government is aware of all the security challenges in the state and is working hard to address them.

He said the issue of bandits imposing levies or restrictions on communities in the state is not a new thing but assured that “as a responsible government, we are not resting; we will ensure that the people of the state enjoy some relative peace”.