Bandits continue to exert control over several communities in Sokoto State, appointing and deposing village heads at will, according to the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharifu Kamarawa. The chairman made this revelation on Thursday during a visit by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to communities in eastern Isa, Sabon Birni, and Goronyo local government areas, where banditry remains a serious problem.
Kamarawa explained that while Isa town itself is relatively peaceful, the eastern parts of the local government are still under the control of bandits, particularly those led by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji. “Here in Isa town, we are living peacefully. The problem is in the eastern part of Isa. There are places that are still under the control of bandits. They appoint and depose village heads there,” Kamarawa said.
The chairman expressed concern about the lack of military presence in key areas, urging the federal government to re-establish a military camp in Kagara, which had previously helped maintain peace. “We are appealing for a military camp in Kagara to take care of those areas. We used to have a camp there before it was relocated, and then there was relative peace. So we want the camp back,” Kamarawa appealed.
Despite these challenges, Kamarawa noted a significant reduction in attacks following the death of Halilu Sububu, a major bandit leader who was killed about a month ago. “Since the death of Halilu Sububu, there has been a noticeable reduction in attacks, and people can now travel on roads that were previously too dangerous to use,” he said.
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Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, who has been in Sokoto since Wednesday to spearhead efforts against banditry, reassured the people that the federal government is committed to addressing the insecurity plaguing the North-West region. Matawalle highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to restoring peace, noting that the President had appointed Northerners to key positions in defence and security to better understand and tackle the challenges in the region.
“The President is seriously concerned about the insecurity in the North. That’s why he appointed Northerners as ministers of Defence and heads of security operatives,” Matawalle said. He also announced plans to establish a new military base at Gundumi to help secure the Gundumi-Marnona road, which has been closed for years due to bandit activity. “The President has directed me to ensure the militarisation of all the danger areas in the state. So we are going to create a military base at Gundumi which will be patrolling the Gundumi-Marnona road,” he added.