Panic as Bandit-Terrorists Displace Niger Community, Establish Camp
Armed Bandits have continued their onslaught against communities in Niger State unabated with the latest being the sacking of entire Tsohon Kabula Community in Munya Local Government of the State.
The over 200 inhabitants of the community have abandoned their farms and homes and have relocated to neighboring villages,where they are currently taking refuge with families and relations.
Also being occupied by the Bandits is Shapai Village, about 15 kilometers from Sarkin Pawa, the headquarters of Munya LGA, where they (Bandits) used as their transit route to and from Tshohon Kabula.
A source close to the Tshohon Kabula,who disclosed this to our correspondent in Minna on telephone, said the Bandits have taken over every residential houses in the community, including a worship centre and turned them to camp where they keep victims of kidnap before transporting them to their permanent camps in Kaduna state and beyond if ransom is not paid within the stipulated time. He said that the occupation of the community by the Bandits was due to the removal of security camp from the area early this year, adding that,“we did not know why they decided to remove the security camp in the area because it was after their departure that the Bandits came and sacked the entire community and took over the area as their camp”.
He pointed out that Tsohon Kabula is very strategic to their operation in the area, stressing that,“it is through Tsohon Kabula that the Bandits launch attacks on communities around Bani, Adunu, Amale, Ishau, Kafin Koro and its environs in Paioro LGA of the state”.
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Our source disclosed that no fewer than 21 villagers including women that were abducted from some villages around Munya LGA last week are currently being kept in Tsohon Kabula camp waiting for their ransom to be paid or be transferred to their permanent base in Kaduna state.
When contacted, the Chairman of Munya LGA Mr. Najume A. Aminu, confirmed the story,but said the Bandits were not camping in Tsohon Kanula permanently, but only come to operate and retreat back to their base in Kaduna state.
He equally confirmed that due to the activities of the Bandits in the community and its surrounding villages, the people have deserted the area and abandoned their homes, and have moved to neighbouring villages to take refuge, but that the government is on top of the situation, stressing further that, “the problem is that because of the activities of informants, the Bandits usually take the people unaware. They have so many routes with which they enter the area.
According to him, “the Bandits have their camps in a nearby village called Mangoro, where they built several tents to keep victims of kidnap before moving them out to unknown destinations.
“Mangoro village is their major route when they move from Kaduna state, they go through Mangoro to launch attacks on these communities. But the problem is that, “when you block one route, they take another route to enter the local government, and because we shared boundary with Kaduna state through Chukun local government area, it makes it difficult to check the movement of these criminals, but the government is not relenting, we will surely win the war”.
“The government is aware of their activities in these areas and we are making efforts to see that the situation is addressed. These people have made lives miserable for the villagers; people are being forced to abandon their homes and farms which is their only occupation”.
