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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Repentant Bandit Attacks Former Colleagues, Rescues 38 Abducted Victims In Zamfara |
| 2022-04-13 |
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
A repentant bandit popularly known as Smally in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State has led some courageous locals to the enclaves of bandidos where the criminals were engaged, leaving scores dead and freeing about 38 kidnapped victims. According to DAILY POST, Smally who was not happy with the killings and kidnapping of innocent citizens in the state decided to lead the operation against his former colleagues in their hideouts. Umaru Usman, a resident of the community said, "The repentant bandit first killed some of the bandidos and freed 16 kidnapped victims and took them to a nearby bush around Sakajiki village from where they were evacuated by security operatives. "After some time, another 22 were also freed and brought out to the same spot and also evacuated by security operatives and moved to Gusau." Umaru Usman explained that the operation which took place around Dajin Yamma forest in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area brought jubilation among residents of the area. On Monday, April 11, 2022, the state police commissioner, Ayuba Elkanan, in a press briefing in Gusau, said 39 kidnapped victims were rescued after a gun duel with bandidos. But according to some residents of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, the kidnapped victims were released by Smally and his group and not any security operative in the state, pointing out that the police are always looking for cheap publicity. "The axis had been in total control of the recalcitrant bandidos before Smally and his group courageously confronted the deadly murderous Moslems in their enclaves and neutralised scores of them (bandidos) while others escaped with various degrees of injuries," one of the residents said. Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandidos have thrived. Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, steal cattle and kidnap residents for ransom. Dozens of farmers have been killed as hundreds of hectares of farmland remain uncultivated. Most of the slain victims were trapped on their farms and killed. In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the button men. About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different 'repentant' gangs of bandidos by the governor in 2020. Governor Bello Matawalle also approved millions of naira to be given to the 'repentant' bandidos as compensation. "Those bandidos have different groups, so if they say they repent, the governor will give them a Hilux vehicle; unfortunately they are now using the vehicles to carry out attacks," a military source had told SaharaReporters. "It's so sad, he called it a peace and reconciliation programme, but all you need to be rich now in Zamfara is to take up arms against the people." The bandit leaders who got the vehicles include Na Shama, Sani Shaidan, Mohammadu Bello Halilu and Bage Waye. Other beneficiaries were identified as Kachalla, Ado, Busniya, Dunbulu and Gajere. |
| Posted by:Fred |