Critical stakeholders in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states have faulted the media publicity given to the relocation of the minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle; the chief of defence staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa and other security chiefs to Sokoto to the flush out bandits from the North West zone.
They, however, disagreed on the gains of the delegation since its members’ arrival in the region last Monday.
In Sokoto, the stakeholders said the publicity given to the presidential order to the security chiefs had given the bandits the opportunity to move to safe havens.
However, their counterparts in Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states said the action had led to security beef-up in some communities but lamented that they were still under bandits’ attacks.
LEADERSHIP Weekend learnt that in Sokoto State, save for the publicity stunt for Matawalle, since the CDS and security chiefs’ arrival in the North West zone, nothing has really changed in terms of dreaded insecurity in parts of Sokoto State.
The residents said, apart from the ceremonial arrival of the minister and his entourage at the Sokoto Airport, his visit to the Government House for a courtesy call on Governor Ahmed Aliyu and donating N5 million to soldiers injured in the line of action, no new troops have been deployed to the state.
While addressing the troops, Matawalle said, “We are here in Sokoto State on the instruction of President Bola Tinubu, who directed the Ministry of Defence with all its artillery to come to Sokoto and review the operations, especially that of ‘Operation Hadarin Daji.
“The president is worried about what is happening in the North West. He called me and the chief of defence staff while he was in China to immediately suspend whatever we are doing and come down to Sokoto.
“He said we should come and supervise the operation of our troops currently going on in the North West, under ‘Ooperation Hadarin Daji’, to see our troops, to review the operations and to make sure that all their needs are provided so that they can go and fight those criminals.”
The minister charged them not to be distracted by the recent happening in the state, apparently referring to the killing of four soldiers and the burning of two MRAP by the Bello Turji-led bandits.
But a cross-section of residents in the troubled areas voiced out their frustration against the government’s attitude toward banditry, kidnapping and incessant attacks on the eastern flank of the state.
One of them, Alhaji Abdullahi Goronyo, a large-scale farmer forced by bandits to abandon his farm and now living at one of the displaced persons’ camps, faulted the government’s announcement of planned assaults on those terrorising the towns and villages.
He said, “Disappointedly, the news was everywhere that troops will be launching attacks on those terrorising us. My question is, do they expect the bandits, terrorists, cattle rustlers and kidnappers to continue to wait for the troops to come and attack them?
“As a lay man on security matters, I think the announcement of their action is not a good tactic. The much-publicised onslaught will end up being a jamboree as their targets must have relocated to safer havens,” he said.
In Zamfara State, the stakeholders said the steps taken by the federal government to flush out criminals was a welcome development, describing it as having the potency to end the menace of bandits in the state.
According to a resident, Hon Sani Mohammed Dansadau, since the government announced the decision, all the routes and other areas used and occupied by the criminals have been peaceful.
He said, “In fact, the road to Dansadau from Gusau where they have been terrorising the people have started witnessing sanity. Our expectations are to see the troops flush out these criminals so that peace can return to Zamfara and other states affected in the Northwest.”
When our correspondent visited 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Gusau, the state capital and other military formations in the state, there was improvement of the security arrangement.
The spokesperson of the brigade, Lieutenant Sulaiman Omale, said he had nothing to say about the development as he was not in a position to speak on the matter.
In Katsina State, residents said the relocation of the minister and the CDS, Gen Christopher Musa, has started yielding positive results in the fight against banditry.
The residents who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend expressed joy over the development, citing increased security presence and activities in the state.
A resident of Kankara local government area, Kabir Usman, said there was a heavy deployment of security personnel at Mabai community to foil any sudden attack.
However, not all residents shared the same sentiment. A resident of Batsari local government area, who pleaded anonymity, said the situation in the area has not improved, citing a recent attack by bandits on Watagaliya community where some villagers were kidnapped and others shot.
He said, “In Bakon Zabo, the bandits shot some people while working on the farm. There is no need to announce to people that the minister of defence, chief of defence staff and other service chiefs were relocating to the northwest to confront the bandits. That is as good as leaking information for the hoodlums to go hiding.”
While in Katsina, Gen Musa confirmed the improvement in security in the state and other North West states with the new strategy.
He attributed the success to the new measures taken by the armed forces to confront the bandits, which he believes would finally put an end to the incessant killings and kidnappings for ransom in the area.
Musa called on the public to join hands with the military in the fight against banditry, stressing that it was the only sure way to win the battle.
In Kebbi State, the residents said they were still waiting for the impact of the minister and security chiefs’ mission.
They said since the delegation’s arrival in Sokoto last Monday evening there was no improvement on the security arrangement in Kebbi.
Some security experts who craved anonymity faulted the defence contingent for exposing their mission before arriving in the states.
One of them said, “Such an action does not need to be publicised before it kicks off because it will force the targeted elements to run away.”
Unconfirmed reports indicated that some fleeing bandits blocked the Argungu-Sanyinna-Yabo Highway on Wednesday night and denied commuters access to the road.
Efforts to reach security heads over the development failed.
