Feature: By George Coben, Bauchi
For sometime now, border communities in and around Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State, have been facing security challenges due to what may be attributed to infiltration by criminal elements from neighbouring states.
Recent developments of bandit attacks in some of these communities such as Gwana, Digare and Kafin-Duguri, among others, in Alkaleri LGA, has raised serious concerns of what it portends for other LGAs in that section of the state, in particular, and across the state, in general, if drastic measures are not taken to nip the occurrence in the bud.
It would appear that these border communities have become the center of attraction to the bandits to seemingly colonize and make as their headquarters in furtherance of their larger plan against the state, reminiscent of what Boko Haram reportedly did long ago in Borno state, where some towns and villages, were over-ran and made their headquarters of operation, with their flags foisted to indicate such, before Nigeria’s joint security forces sacked them.
What began as a mere farmer/herder clash in Darazo LGA of the state and the Bauchi State Police arrest of some individuals for allegedly supplying fuel to bandits in Giade LGA of the state, not long ago, with the spirited interventions of the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, and the state police command, which seemingly brought normalcy, may have, unfortunately, also somehow, contributed to the recent bandit activities in the areas.
The reported attacks in Gwana, Mansur, Futuk, Digare, and other communities in Alkaleri LGA of the state have displaced scores from such communities who are currently taking refuge at central primary school, Kashere, Akko LGA of Gombe State.
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, in company of the state CP, Mr Sani-Omolori Aliyu, Director DSS, and Brigade Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade, NA, paid a visit to the internally displaced persons, IDP, camp there in the primary school.
While addressing them, the Governor raised alarm that over 10,000 armed bandits reportedly invaded several communities in Alkaleri LGA of the state, adding that the bandits overwhelmed local
vigilante and security operatives, displacing more than 100,000 residents.
The Governor who sympathized with them announced the release of #50 million for the provision of food items, and other basic needs for them while in the IDP camp, as part of immediate relief measures, and expressed appreciation to the Gombe State Government, the Kashere community, and the Emir of Pindiga, for the gesture to the displaced persons, for the meantime.
Governor Mohammed who expressed concern over what he described as “ungoverned spaces” around the Dajin Madam forest in Alkaleri LGA, alleging that bandits fleeing military operations in the North-West had regrouped in the area and were recruiting both outsiders and locals, including individuals previously involved in illegal mining, stressed that the situation requires urgent Federal intervention.
“We will meet the President to get directives for the military and the police to tackle the issue. We will use technology and other means to decimate the bandits,” he said.
He assured the displaced persons that in collaboration with the Federal Government, the assailants would be flushed out, urging them to be responsible citizens by supporting security agents with useful information about the activities of criminal elements in their midst.
The Governor also announced plan for a joint security summit involving Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Benue states towards developing a co-ordinated strategy to flush out bandits and reclaim the affected territories.
He disclosed plans to recruit 2,000 youths in the vigilante groups to be trained as forest guards, emphasizing greater community involvement in local security efforts.
Also speaking, the Emir of Pindiga, Muhammad Seyoji Ahmad, pledged continuous support from traditional institutions in efforts to restore peace and stability.
The Emir, alongside the chairman Akko LGA, and other government officials, who had welcomed the Governor and his team to the IDP camp, expressed appreciation for the visit and asked for more support.
Governor Bala Mohammed also visited his home country, Futuk in Alkaleri LGA, where normalcy has returned and business activities have started picking up.
While interacting with the community members, the Governor told them that a security base would be established in the area, and called for continuous prayers and support to security agents to enable them address the menace.
Meanwhile, in a press conference, on behalf of the Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Mr Sani-Omolori Aliyu, the command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, said that massive deployments of security personnel and enhanced weaponry in collaboration with sister security agencies, have been put in place to subdue kidnapping and banditry in the affected communities.
“Moreover, this collaborative efforts of the Police, the Military, the DSS, the NSCDC, and other security agencies, with the active support of the Bauchi State Government, under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed, are yielding positive results. Operatives are working tirelessly to ensure
peace and stability in the affected areas,” he stressed.
The PPRO reassured residents of Mansur town in Alkaleri LGA of the state who fled their homes, that the security situation is under control, stating that despite the incident in neighbouring Gwana district, Mansur town remains unaffected and therefore there was no for alarm.
While assuring the people that there is no safe haven for bandits in the areas, SP Habib said the CP, Mr Sani-Omolori Aliyu, emphasized that community cooperation is crucial in the fight against any form of crime.
“He further advises residents to promptly provide intelligence information to security agencies, to observe and report any strange faces, objects or suspicious activities or movements, assuring them that their identities will be protected.
“The Force, under the leadership of the acting IGP, Mr Olatunji Rilwanu Disu, encouraged residents to take advantage of the security measures in place and go about their daily activities without fear,” the command’s spokesperson concluded.
