Since the beginning of this year, Katsina state has been having its own bitter taste of the banditry and other organised crimes which have stalled farming and other businesses. The state, like Zamfara, Kebbi Kaduna and Sokoto states, is battling various insecurity threats bedeviling the North-west and making it the most insecure zone in Nigeria.
In Katsina state, the most affected local government areas witnessing unprecedented insecurity unleashed by dreaded bandits and kidnappers are Malumfashi, Bakori, Faskari and Kankara.
The situation is causing untold fear and psychological trauma as the people of the affected local government areas are at the mercy of armed gangs that roam towns and villages at will, wrecking havoc.
Apart of causing serious setback both socially and economically for the people of these local government areas, people are gruesomely murdered by these armed bandits while the lucky victims are taken away until ransom is paid by their relatives.
Although the government and security agencies are doing their best but it appears the security apparatchik are not on top of the situation, because the criminals are displaying a certain degree of impunity.
They move from house to house, village to village, market to market, with AK-47 rifles openly, purchasing foodstuffs, other items and even collecting taxes from the people.
In a nutshell, the perpetrators of this heinous crime against their neighbours and humanity at large are known in their respective villages and towns. Even thought the business of maintaining law and order is the primary purpose of government their is the need for collaborative efforts by all and sundry in the society.
About two months ago, the sleepy town of Burdugau in Malumfashi local government area came under attack by armed bandits, 11 persons were kidnapped including 10 married women and one man. Four of them were released after the payment of ransom while the remaining seven are still in captivity.
During the incident, the bandits killed one person, popularly known as Uban Sabga, made away with valuable items including animals belonging to the community and forced people to surrender their money or be killed.
This incident forced residents people of the village to flee their homes for safety, rendering the place a ghost town for over two weeks.
In spite of the heinous crime against the people of Burdugau, the town witnessed another extrajudicial killing committed by the outlawed vigilante members allegedly hired by some people who were from villages surrounding our town.
These Yan’sakai were said to be hired from Bakori local government area to perpetrate their heinous act in which six innocent people were gruesomely slaughtered by these dreaded vigilant (Yan’sakai) in our town within one week.
Those murdered by the Yan’sakai are Malam Ahmad Danmune, Idris Madiska and his son Salim Aliyu, and Mamman Maikare.
To add salt to the injury, the Yan’sakai take the law into their hands by breaking and looting properties belonging to members of the community, burning shops and houses. This barbaric act forced the remaining residents to flee the town for safety.
Our stand, the people of Burdugau in Malumfashi local government area of Katsina state, is that we are peace loving and committed citizens of the state that support the government’s efforts towards eradicating the problem as we are tired of the barbaric act committed against us by dreaded bandits and kidnappers.
In spite of the psychological trauma we are going through we deem it necessary to inform the government about the evil activities of this outlawed vigilante group. Government should stop the group from taking the law into their hands by extrajudicial killings, stealing and burning people’s properties as if we are in an animal kingdom where the mighty can and undo. In addition, the group should be brought to book for the crimes committed against our people.
Regardless of the crime against us, we remain law abiding citizens and reiterate our support in the effort by the Governor Dikko Umar Radda administration of Katsina state to restore peace to the state. We shall continue to remain resolute to ensure that no one takes the law into his hands during the in the area.
Failure on the side of the government to do the needful will warrant undesirable development as the victims and other people will not fold their arms watching Yan’sakai unleash more unbearable hardship on them in the name of helping the government to fight banditry and other forms of criminalities in the state.
As an agrarian community, 99 percent of our people of Burdugau G’ Malumfashi local government area have no other source of livelihood than agribusiness or farming. Having been displaced and rendered homeless by the activities of armed bandits and Yan’sakai, I want to use this medium to appeal to Katsina state and Malumfashi local governments to come to our rescue by ensuring the return of residents to their homes. This will enable our people to go back to their farms.
Sanusi Muhammad,
Burdugau G’, Malumfashi local government area, Katsina state
