Ayomidele Oluwasusi
SOKOTO, Nigeria – As the people of Gobir in Nigeria’s Sokoto state were mourning the death of their slain Emir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa who was killed by terrorists locally dubbed as bandits in the country, the terrorists have reportedly invaded the community again and kidnapped more 150 people.
A University Don, Prof Bello Bada made this known an interview with Radio France International (rfi) Hausa Service on Sunday, alleging that the scary activities of bandits in the area was due to certain lapses from many quarters.
Professor Bada said it was such lapses that made the bandits had the effrontery to even threatened to Kidnap Former President Buhari when he was in power.
“This is not the first time a prominent monarch was attacked, but this is the first time a prominent monarch was murdered,” he said.
Professor Bada said the murder of the Emir of Gobir was a humiliation to all Nigerians, adding that now is the time for Nigerians to have a rethink on the nefarious acts of these bandits who have continued to kill people intermittently.
“The bandits had made a similar attempt on the life of the Emir of Potiskum while he was on the way to Zaria but he narrowly escaped. The Emir of Kauran Namoda escaped death by whiskers, but members of his entourage were killed by the bandits,” he said.
“In Zuru community, a monarch was slaughtered by these bandits, but after some few days, these heinous acts would be completely forgotten as if nothing ever happened, until the bandits strike again.”
The university don said such acts should not be left unchecked and allowed to become a recurring decimal.
“Where these bandits are coming from is well known but the appropriate action against them is not well taken,” Professor Bada alleged.
Police could not reached for comment.
A security analyst, Dr Yahuza Getso said that the security operatives who were complacent and allowed the late Emir of Gobir to be murdered by bandits after spending over 3 weeks in captivity, should be punished.
According to Vanguard news agency, Getso warned that there was palpable tension in Gobir community after the gruesome murder of the Emir, as the activities of the bandits have caused deep division among the native Gobirawa, Hausa and the Fulani people in the area.
“The leaders of these bandits terrorising the Northwest region are well known, their places of origin are known, their parents and these who supply them with means of logistic are all known,” the expert said.
“We all have agreed that the security operatives have the expertise to face this problem head on and bring it to an end. It appears the political leaders are not giving them the support they need to overcome this menace,” he alleged.
– Insecurity and violence in Nigeria –
For more than a decade, civilians in Nigeria have faced multiple security threats and risk of atrocities as result of attacks, kidnappings and extortion by various non-state armed groups.
Since the start of 2024 civilians have faced intensified violence across Nigeria, and near-daily attacks by armed groups resulting in kidnappings and other abuses against civilians.
Armed groups and gangs, including so-called “bandits,” have – for many years – perpetrated widespread atrocities, including murder, rape, kidnapping, organized cattle-rustling and plunder. Armed herdsmen are also destroying vast swaths of farmland, prompting many farmers to abandon their land out of fear of attack.