Military Onslaught In Zamfara: Dislodged Bandits Flee Towards Southern States

There have been robust indications on Monday that bandits fleeing the army onslaught in Zamfara State have been transferring to states within the South.

Prime safety sources, who confided in our correspondents, mentioned safety brokers in different states had been alerted to be looking out for the fleeing bandits.

It was additionally gathered that the South-West states had put the regional safety outfit, Amotekun, on the alert following intelligence studies that bandits being dislodged from Zamfara State have been fleeing southwards.

The Amotekun Corps commanders in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states, in separate interviews with our correspondents, acknowledged that residents of the states had been informed to be vigilant and guard towards infiltration by the fleeing hoodlums.

They mentioned this as gunmen invaded the Kabba Correctional Centre in Kogi State, the place they freed 240 inmates and killed two troopers.

In Kaduna State, suspected herdsmen attacked Peigyim village within the Zangon Kataf Native Authorities Space of the state and killed 12 individuals.

No fewer than 4 travellers have been additionally kidnapped in Ekiti State on Monday.

The Federal Authorities had final week ordered telecommunications firms to close down their base stations in Zamfara State as a part of the onslaught towards bandits, who have been engaged in ceaseless kidnapping and killings within the state and different elements of the North-West.

The bandits had additionally been hit by starvation following the choice of the state authorities and neighbouring states to shut common markets, the place they have been getting foodstuffs.

There have been studies that many bandits had been killed throughout army raids, whereas others have been mentioned to be fleeing Zamfara State.

A senior police officer, who confided in The PUNCH, mentioned, “A number of days in the past, a few of the bandits fled to Niger State they usually have been handled by the army. A few of them are transferring southwards and safety brokers have been alerted.”

We envisaged that bandits would take refuge in different states – Ekiti Amotekun commander

The Corps Commander, Amotekun Corps, Ekiti State, Brig Gen Joe Komolafe (retd.), mentioned in an interview with The PUNCH that the company had at all times envisaged that the dislodged bandits would need to take refuge in different states and was proactive about guarding towards their incursion into Ekiti.

Komolafe mentioned, “We have now at all times envisaged that when dislodged, they’ll need to transfer to different states; that’s the reason every time we come out, we speak to the residents to report unusual faces to us.

“We strive as a lot as potential to observe the routes and entry factors; we all know that the criminals might not come by street or via the principle routes to enter the state; it’s in view of that that we at all times inform our individuals to report unusual faces to us.

“We patrol the forests; we have now individuals on the farms, who will inform us once they see unusual faces on the farms or bushes. We attempt to plead with the individuals to provide us needed details about unusual faces and strange actions.

“Additionally, we have now excellent working relationships with Amotekun within the neighbouring states as properly all safety businesses within the state.”

‘We received intelligence that bandits have been making an attempt to relocate to Ondo forests’

On his half, the Ondo State Amotekun Corps Commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, acknowledged that the safety outfit had acquired a safety report on the fleeing bandits.

He mentioned Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had given an order for the corps to place in place needed safety measures within the 18 native authorities areas of the state to forestall the bandits from hanging within the state.

Adeleye acknowledged, “We have now received data from a dependable intelligence report that the fleeing bandits are coming, that they intend to remain within the forest to trigger mayhem and that they’re closing in critically. The supply informed us that the bandits need to begin with Ondo State as a frontline state.

“So, with that, we have now put severe intelligence on the bottom throughout the state and our major intention is to forestall any infiltration and assault. We don’t even need them to strike earlier than we get them. So, we’re at each native authorities space, each main city and contained in the forest.

“On the opposite facet too, we’re deploying all means to make sure that if they arrive to this state, they’ll meet their waterloo. Proper now, our intelligence is on the bottom at each nook and cranny of the state. And we’re monitoring keenly. That’s what Mr Governor has directed me to do and I’ll do it diligently.”

Oyo Amotekun beefs up safety at boundary with Kwara

The Director-Basic, Amotekun Corps, Oyo State, Col Olayinka Olayanju ( retd), mentioned the outfit’s personnel have been patrolling boundaries of the state aggresively to forestall hoodlums from relocating to the state.

The DG mentioned, “We knew that and our males are already looking out for the bandits, different criminals and unusual faces, particularly at our boundaries.

“We’re at alert and our males are finishing up operations relating to this at Irepo, which is the boundary of Oyo and Kwara states, to be sure that the bandits don’t relocate to our state.

“They are going to be stopped. Our males will decide them up. We gained’t permit criminals to relocate right here.”

‘Osun doesn’t have ungoverned areas’

On his half, the Corps Commander, Amotekun Corps, Osun State, Brig Gen Bashir Adewinbi (retd.), acknowledged, “They (bandits) can’t come to Osun, as a result of the state doesn’t have ungoverned areas.

“In all places is being monitored in Osun State in collaboration with the police and with extra 750 vigilantes not too long ago recruited by the state authorities to help Amotekun.”

Ways gained’t be divulged in the mean time – Defence Headquarters

When contacted to touch upon studies that the bandits being dislodged from Zamfara State have been fleeing to different states, particularly southern states, the Director of Defence Data, Main Basic Benjamin Sawyerr, neither confirmed nor denied the studies.

He mentioned, “Operations are ongoing. Ways and methods are to not be divulged at this second.

“The operations are being performed consistent with the operational directives in addition to contingencies.

“The North-Central, North-East and the North-West will quickly have causes to thank the Armed Forces of Nigeria for a job properly accomplished.”

He, nevertheless, declined to reply additional questions put to him on the matter.

Gunmen abduct 4 travellers in Ekiti

Because the Amotekun Corps beefed up safety within the South-West, gunmen on Monday waylaid travellers on the Ayetoro Ekiti-Otun Ekiti Street and whisked no fewer than 4 individuals into the forest.

Sources mentioned two buses conveying passengers from the Otun Ekiti finish of the street have been attacked by the gunmen, who kidnapped 4 passengers, whereas the others escaped.

A supply mentioned a type of, who escaped, informed him that the gunmen took away 4 passengers from the 2 buses.

One other supply, who mentioned he received details about the assault from hunters, mentioned, “The hunters have been known as that some kidnappers have been working on the Ayetoro Ekiti-Otun Ekiti Street.

“However earlier than they received there, the gunmen had commandeered the 2 buses into the bush. At that time, we couldn’t inform the variety of individuals taken into the forest, however the buses have been deserted there.

“I suggested the hunters and the safety brokers, who arrived on the scene later, that the abductors would have gone in direction of Otun and that they might not have gone very far by then.

“Positively, they have been those, who operated on the Ayetoro-Ewu Street on Sunday. The Sunday operation was not profitable and that was why they waited round to hold out this one.”

In response to him, the abductors, on realising that that they had missed their targets on Sunday, might need resorted to attacking industrial bike riders and shot indiscriminately within the air to scare individuals off.

“An Okada rider was stopped at gunpoint and the hoodlums took all his valuables, whereas one other Okada operator escaped into the bush. The abductors fled once they observed that the opposite Okada rider had escaped,” the supply added.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, mentioned, “We heard the knowledge and we have now deployed our males there.

“There was a kidnap incident this morning (Monday). I can not but verify the variety of individuals kidnapped. It started on Sunday night when some suspected robbers attacked a person, whom the police thereafter rescued. However this morning, we learnt that the suspects have been those who kidnapped some street customers. The police are on their path.”

S’West PDP asks Buhari to resign over killings

In the meantime, the Peoples Democratic Social gathering within the South-West, on Monday, known as on the President, Main Basic Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to resign from workplace following his alleged incapacity to stem the tide of killings throughout the nation.

The Publicity Secretary, South-West PDP, Chief Sanya Atofarati, who lamented that the killers have been now turning the warmth on the army and different safety businesses, thus leaving the residents helpless and hopeless, suggested the Federal Authorities to hunt international assist in the curiosity of peace and growth of the nation.

“It’s gross incompetence on the a part of the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress Federal Authorities that Nigeria has turn into a graveyard,” he acknowledged.

Atofarati mentioned this in an announcement titled, ‘Killing spree: Why Buhari should resign now’, made obtainable to journalists in Ado Ekiti in response to current assaults by bandits and gunmen on army formations in addition to police stations and personnel.

He acknowledged, “Between 2015 and now, greater than 20,000 Nigerians have misplaced their lives as a result of incapacity of the federal government to guard the lives and property of the residents, starting from jihadist Fulani herdsmen to Boko Haram to bandits/freeway kidnappers.

“It’s protected to say that the APC authorities stays insensitive to the welfare of Nigerians, in any other case, by now, Buhari ought to have voluntarily resigned or cry for assist.

“Nigeria is now a rustic, the place the businesses saddled with the duty of securing the residents have out of the blue turn into weaklings and incapacitated; a rustic the place governors’ convoys are attacked at will, monarchs are kidnapped even under the President’s nostril in his dwelling state; a rustic the place there isn’t a conflict however mass burial weekly!

“It’s excessive time Nigeria sought international assist to curb insecurity, lest we’re all captured.” ,,