Repentant ‘notorious bandits’ working with Katsina govt arrested for

cattle rustling, robbery

September 5, 2021

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By Bashir Bello, KATSINA

Police operatives have arrested three repentant “notorious bandits”, who had been working with the
Katsina State government and security agents, for cattle rustling and robbery. The trio were identified as
one Abdullahi Mai-Rafi, Abbas Haruna alias Dogo-Abbas and Usman Hassan, alias Manu.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed this to newsmen in the state. Isah said the
trio had robbed Gide Suleiman, a herder, in Danmarke Forest (Ingawa Local Government) and had
returned for same mission for the second time when they were arrested.

According to him, “August 25, at about 12:30pm, the Command succeeded in arresting the trio of one
Abdullahi Mai-Rafi, 43, of Kofar Marusa Lowcost; Abbas Haruna, alias Dogo-Abbas, 34, of Filin Polo
Quarters, and Usman Hassan, alias Manu, 50, of Ganuwa village, Charanchi Local Government, all of
Katsina State.

“They are repentant notorious bandits, working in collaboration with the Katsina State government and
security agencies. “The trio on August 11, at about 11pm, went to Danmarke Forest, Ingawa, with a car,
number plates DE 631 LED, attacked a herder, Alhaji Gide Suleiman of Malumafashi.

“They used machetes and sticks, threatened him and his boys, saying they were from the office of
Special Adviser on Security to His Excellency, with a false allegation that their brother one Sa’idu had
robbed one Lawal of his herds and that they should either produce the said Saidu or bring 100 cows.

“After some scuffles, the suspects succeeded in robbing the said Alhaji Gide Suleiman of 20 cows valued
at N7,550,000, with the intention of taking them to the said Lawal as compensation for his stolen cows,
as falsely alleged by them. “They also searched and robbed them of N40,000 and four mobile phones.

“Subsequently, on August 24, at about 7:30pm, the same syndicate attacked the complainant on the
same false allegation and attempted to rob him of another set of 20 cows and some sheep, but nemesis
caught up with them when they were rounded up and arrested by the Command.” The Police Public
Relations Officer, SP Isah equally said the command also succeeded in arresting three informants of
bandits and a fuel supplier aiding and abetting the activities of the bandits.

Vanguard News Nigeria

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/repentant-notorious-bandits-working-with-katsina-govt-
arrested-for-cattle-rustling-robbery/
BANDITRY: Telecom in Zamfara shut down, blackout looms in Kaduna,
Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Niger
September 5, 2021

By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

Zamfara State is in total telecommunications blackout after telecom operators in the country complied
totally to Federal Government’s order to shut down all activities in the state. The order, which came late
Friday night, was barely six months after Federal Government also declared Zamfara a ‘no fly zone’.

The latest order, according to Federal Government sources, is in a renewed effort to fight banditry and
other forms of insecurity in Zamfara. Sunday Vanguard correspondents, who tried to contact the
Government House, Gusau, ministries and parastatals in the state met a brick wall as their calls couldn’t
register in any network.

Operators who spoke in confidence, yesterday, said they had to comply following government’s
seriousness over the directive.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, wrote to all
telecommunication operators in the country to stop extending services to Zamfara and environs,
effective Friday, September 03, 2021.

The tone of the letter, signed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof Umar Danbatta
and addressed to the Chief Executives of all the telecom operators in the country, signifies that
neighboring states to Zamfara like Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna and Katsina, among others, may be
affected by the telecom black-out, considering that signal to or from a telecom tower in Zamfara could
extend services up to 45 miles away.

The latest development comes on the heels of similar directive by Governor Bello Matawalle who, last
week, announced the closure of all weekly markets in the state as part of measures to address the
worsening security situation in the state.

Vanguard News Nigeria

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/banditry-telecom-in-zamfara-shut-down-blackout-looms-in-
kaduna-sokoto-kebbi-katsina-niger/
 Gunmen abduct Katsina lawmaker’s wife, children
Olaide Oyelude

5 September 2021

Gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Saturday night, attacked the country home of a member of Katsina
State House of Assembly representing Bakori Constituency, Dr. Ibrahim Kurami. The country house is
located at the lawmaker’s village, Kurami, Bakori Local Government Area of the state.

Resdents noted that the gunmen stormed the house at 9 p.m , shortly after Muslims night prayers and
shot at a member of the First Aid Group of Islam met at the main gate. The victim sustained injuries
from the gunshots and was later rushed to a hospital for treatment. The gunmen thereafter abducted
two of the lawmaker’s children and his wife, The PUNCH was told.

Residents said the whereabouts of the trio were still unknown as of Sunday when this report is filed.

It was further learnt that the lawmaker who immediately left for Katsina after participating in the
Saturday’s APC council Congress in the area was later informed of the incident. A senior security agent,
who pleaded anonymity, revealed that security operatives were dispatched to the scene of the incident
and the council on Saturday night.

The officer said, “Our men have been on ground there (Kurami) since Saturday night and a search party
has already been launched for the three abducted victims.” The spokesman for the Katsina police
command, SP Gambo Isah, could not be reached for comments as his telephone lines continuously rang
out. He was also yet to respond to the text message sent to him.

Kurami’s flat at the lawmakers official quarters in Katsina was under lock and key on Sunday while his
official telephone lines were also switched off.

Tags: KATSINA ABDUCTION KATSINA LAWMAKER

https://punchng.com/breaking-gunmen-abduct-katsina-lawmakers-wife-children/

https://www.legit.ng/1432088-breaking-northern-governor-bans-cattle-markets-restricts-movement-of-
motorcycles.html
 Banditry, Kidnapping: Masari shuts some Katsina highways, livestock
markets ...Bans transportation of livestock to, from the state
August 31, 2021

By Bashir Bello

In the face of growing insecurity, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has ordered the
immediate shutting down of some major Katsina highways to tame activities of bandits and other crimes
in the state. The highways shut down include Jibia-Gurbin Baure road and Kankara-Sheme roads linking
to Zamfara State.

Masari further advised that all travelers plying the roads should use the Funtua road. He also suspends
transaction activities at livestock markets in the frontline local governments and others as well as
banning of transportation or movement of livestock to and fro the state. Governor Masari gave the
order in a Security Challenges (containment) order he personally signed.

According to him, “In the exercise of powers conferred on me by the subsection (2) of section 176 of the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and all other powers enabling me on that
behalf, i, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, the Governor of Katsina State do hereby make the following.

“Immediate total closure of Jibia-Gurbin Baure road to all motorists until further notice.

“Immediate closure of Kankara-Sheme roads to all commercial vehicles. Only private non-commercial
vehicles are to ply the road.

“Travelers plying those roads are advised to go through Funtua”.

He further said, “Suspension of the sale of all animals at the markets of the following LGAs, Jibia, Batsari,
Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Malumfashi, Charanchi, Mai’Adua, Kafur, Faskari, Sabuwa, Baure, Dutsinma
and Kaita.

“Ban transportation of cattle trucks from Katsina State to any state in Nigeria.

“Lorries/Trucks carrying firewood from the bush are totally banned.

“Ban of conveying three persons or more than three passengers on motorcycle and tricycle respectively.

“Ban on sale of second hand motorcycles in Charanchi market.

“Re-enforcement of ban on sale of petrol on jerricans at filing station.

“Re-enforcement of ban on operation of tricycle and motorcycle between 10pm to 6am in the state
capital and 6pm to 6am in Frontline LGAs while identified essential workers (Health personnel, security
personnel and Journalists) were exempted.
“Only 2 designated filing stations are allowed to sell fuel of not more than N5,000 to motorists in Jibia,
Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume, Musawa, Matazu, Dutsinma, Kurfi, Danja
and Kafur LGAs,” Governor Masari however stated.

Vanguard News Nigeria

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/banditry-kidnapping-masari-orders-shut-down-of-some-
katsina-highways-livestock-markets/
The Guardian Nigeria

Gunmen abduct Niger monarch, lawmaker’s family members in

Katsina
By Bala Yahaya (Minna), Danjuma Michael (Katsina) and Silver Nwokoro (Lagos)

06 September 2021 | 4:15 am

Over 30 armed men, at the weekend, stormed Wawa District in Borgu Local Council of Niger State and
kidnapped the monarch, Dr. Mahmud Ahmed, from his palace. The Guardian gathered that the bandits,
who carried sophisticated weapons, invaded the palace about 9.15p.m. and forced the Dodo of Wawa
out from his apartment. For hitch-free escape, they shot sporadically while taking the monarch away,
forcing residents to scamper to safety.

A resident told The Guardian the bandits rode on 15 unmarked motorcycles.

Though, the bandits have not established contact with the palace at the time of filing this report, it was
learnt that some local vigilantes in the community were already in the forests searching for their
traditional ruler.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the report, stated that the
Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the locals had been deployed to the area to rescue the monarch and
arrest the bandits.

In a related development, 15 persons have been confirmed killed by bandits in Magami village of Shiroro
Local Council of the state. Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Yusuf Kokki, who confirmed the
development, explained that the incident took place on Thursday and that local vigilantes and hunters
engaged the bandits.

ALSO, gunmen abducted the wife and two children of Katsina State House of Assembly member, Dr.
Ibrahim Kurami, on Saturday night at his village of Kurami in Bakori Local Council.

This is even as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, confirmed abduction of
his 78-year-old brother, Kabir, by bandits.

Whereabouts of the abducted victims was yet to be ascertained as of the time of this report.

Spokesperson for the police command in the state, Gambo Isah, was yet to respond to inquiry on the
issue as of the time of this report, and the lawmaker could not be reached.

Meanwhile, Inuwa’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Yar’Adua, who confirmed the abduction, said the elder
Inuwa was abducted from his home in Danmusa Local Council.
MEANWHILE, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Prosecutor,
International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Karim Khan (QC), to investigate the growing cases of abduction of
students in Northern Nigeria, closure of schools, and the persistent failure of Nigerian authorities to end
the abduction, which it said amounted to crimes against humanity. The body also urged him to push for
those suspected to be responsible to be invited and tried by the ICC.

In the petition signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation noted: “Depriving
children their right to education has severe consequences for their ability to access their fundamental
rights. The severe and life-long harms that result from depriving children the right to education satisfy
the gravity of harm threshold under the Rome Statute.”

BanditsgunmenNiger monarchSERAP

https://m.guardian.ng/news/gunmen-abduct-niger-monarch-lawmakers-family-members-in-katsina/
 Cholera: Katsina death toll hits 150
by Augustine Okezie, Katsina September 6, 2021

5,677 cases reported

Masari orders Katsina colours on commercial vehicles

Shamsudeen Yahaya, Executive Secretary, Katsina Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA)
has said that over 150 people have died as a result of cholera outbreak in the state. He said at least
5,677 cases have been reported since the outbreak of the disease in the state.

Yahaya said the figures were gathered from hospitals and other primary health care centres in the state,
adding that the casualty figure could be higher since some victims, particularly those in the rural areas,
do not visit the hospitals. He advised residents to avoid unhygienic practices, dumping of refuse
indiscriminately.

Continuing, he said: “As of Thursday, September 2, we had 5,677 cases of cholera covering the 34 local
government areas of the state.

“When people engage in indiscriminate dumping of refuse, indiscriminate open defecation, there is
bound to be spread of diseases such as cholera.”

In another development, Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari has ordered commercial vehicles in
Katsina State to revert to the state’s colour, as part of measures aimed at checkmating resurgent
banditry attacks in the state. The Director-General, Media to the Governor, Abdul Labaran Malumfashi,
told reporters at a briefing in Government House Press Centre Katsina that the order which was issued
through Executive Order Number Two is with immediate effect.

He said: “The order is in furtherance of the containment of security challenges which seemed to be
escalating recently. “It is part of efforts to checkmate the activities of bandits, kidnappers, and other
crimes. The directive is to take full effect from Monday, September 15.”

“All commercial vehicles that intend to continue business in the state should comply, by visiting the
Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) to get them approved colour.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/cholera-katsina-death-toll-hits-150/
 Gunmen suspected to be bandits have again attacked a
community in Katsina State, kidnapping four children of a village
head.

According to residents, the gunmen stormed Sabuwar Kasa village in Kafur Local Government Area of
Katsina State in the early hours of Monday and took away Alhaji Hamza Umar’s children. Umar, the
village head of Sabuwar Kasa, is also the head of Local Government Administration in Funtua Local
Government Council of the North-West state.

The police are yet to confirm the incident.

Monday’s incident is coming less than 24 hours after gunmen kidnapped the younger sister of the
Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki. Before that, assailants
had stormed Kurami village in Bakori Local Government Area of the state on Saturday. They abducted
the wife and two children of the member representing Bakori constituency in the state House of
Assembly, Dr. Ibrahim Kurami.

Bakori LGA is about 42 kilometres from Faskari LGA.

Katsina State has in recent weeks witnessed a shift in the kidnapping pattern as gunmen now target
wives, children and relatives of political office holders.

https://www.channelstv.com/2021/09/06/gunmen-strike-again-in-katsina-abduct-village-heads-four-
children/
 Gunmen abduct Katsina lawmaker’s about-to-wed sister
Olaide Oyelude

6 September 2021

Gunmen on Sunday abducted Asma’u Tafoki, younger sister to the Deputy Speaker of Katsina House of
Assembly, Dalhatu Tafoki. Tafoki, who represents Faskari Constituency at the Assembly, confirmed the
incident.

He said that the gunmen stormed his hometown, Tafoki, in the Faskari Local Government Area of the
state around 1am on Sunday and abducted his about-to-wed sister. It was learnt that the gunmen, on
reaching the town, headed for the Deputy Speaker’s family compound where they initially abducted two
ladies.

Members of the vigilante in the town reportedly engaged the gunmen in a duel during which one of the
ladies escaped. The gunmen, however, went with Asma’u.

The Deputy Speaker also confirmed that Asma’u was about to wed, adding that the gunmen were yet to
contact the family for any demand. He said the incident had been reported to the police.

Tafoki said, “The gunmen are yet to contact the family and make any demand.” The Spokesman for the
Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah was yet to react to the incident as of the time of filing
this report.

Asma’u’s abduction occurred a few hours after gunmen abducted two sons and a wife of another
member of the Assembly, Ibrahim Kurami on Saturday night.

Tags: ABDUCTION KATSINA LAW MAKER

https://punchng.com/gunmen-abduct-katsina-lawmakers-about-to-wed-sister/

Masari: With Hindsight, We Should Never Have Negotiated With

Bandits
Editor September 8, 2021 5:02 Am

•Set to ban open grazing, says it’s un-islamic •Declares nomadic herding mustn’t be encouraged in any
form •Identifies informants as greatest challenge to fight against insecurity •President worried about
selective abductions, killings, says IG.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos and Francis Sardauna in Katsina
Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has said with the benefit of hindsight, his government should
never have negotiated with bandits, let alone grant them amnesty. Although Masari said he never
regretted his decision at the time, he admitted that information available to him confirmed that
engaging the bandits was not the right thing to do.

Consequently, based on current understanding of the situation, the governor said he had set in motion
plans to proscribe open grazing of cattle in the state. He said once certain structures were put in place
for ranching, nomadic herding would be outlawed in the state. Masari disclosed these during an
interview on a national television.

He insisted that open grazing of animals should not be encouraged in any form, adding that the practice
is even contrary to Islamic doctrines, which forbid allowing animals into other peoples’ land.

The governor of the North-west state also identified informants as the greatest challenge to the fight
against insecurity in that part of the country.

In a related development, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday, said President
Muhammadu Buhari was worried about the selective abductions and killings in the North-west and
North-central zones of the country. Baba said the president had directed all security agencies in the
country to ensure immediate end to the situation.

Meanwhile, six additional Tucano fighter jets are expected in the country next week to complement the
six already on the ground in the fight against insecurity.

Masari, who had offered marauding gunmen amnesty, after negotiations with them, said looking back in
hindsight, he should not have done that. He said, “I do not regret it. But the only thing I can say is that
with the benefit of hindsight, I wouldn’t have done it. We realised: who are you talking with, because
they do not have an umbrella.

“They are not pushing for any ideological view; they are not pushing for any religious view. They are
simply bandits, criminals and thieves. Any person in the forest is a potential criminal and should be dealt
with as such.”

Speaking on the open grazing controversy, Masari said, “We intend to ban unnecessary roaming about
with cattle. But before we do that, we will make provisions where the animals will stay. I think the
situation in the southern part of the country is slightly different from the northern part of the country.

“The majority of the herders are from the northern part of the country. So, for us, we need a law that
should be obeyed, not one that will be disregarded. For us to come up with the law we will first of all put
some structures on ground, then, we will have the law that can back up the structures so that nobody
would roam or move about with cattle.
“Even that is un-Islamic. It says do not have the numbers you cannot feed that you have to stretch over
to people’s land or on somebody’s farm. I do not think that it is right. And, certainly, once we put in
place ranching for the grazing of all animals, the issue of anybody roaming about will be a past.”

On the rising incidence of armed criminality in Katsina State, Masari categorically identified majority of
those involved in the act as Fulani, saying, “They are the same people like me; who speak the same
language like me; who profess the same religion like me. They are not aliens. So, what we have here on
ground is banditry.

“They are people we know. They are people that had been living with us for 100 of years. They are also
people of the Fulani extraction. Majority of those involved in this banditry are Fulani, whether it is
palatable or not, but that is the truth.

“I did not say that 100 per cent of them are Fulani, but the majority of them are. They are people who
live in the forest and their main occupation is rearing of cattle.

“Probably their fortunes dwindled over time with climate change and their lack of access to education,
both Islamic and Western education, also aggravated the situation.”

While acknowledging possible infiltrations from some West and North African countries, the governor
stressed that the fall of former Libya leader Muammar Ghadafi had encouraged instability and
proliferation of arms and ammunitions. He urged the political leadership in northern Nigeria to summon
courage and determination to end the crisis.

“I think it is our responsibility in Katsina and northern Nigeria to be determined to end this,” he said.

Masari added, “The biggest problem in our efforts and other places is their informants. They are
everywhere in the markets and the villages and when they see military or police patrol they will inform.

“The problem is the support the informants are giving to the bandits, which empowers them with
information. Once we are able to cripple the informants, especially, by taking away the networks, the
informants can no longer help them. The armed forces have their own way of communicating.”

The governor explained that the bandits would be fished out and brought to book with the aid of
technology and the determination of the armed forces.

He stated regarding the armed criminal gangs, “They live in the forests. The terrain is very bad and
reaching them is also very difficult. But with the help of technology and what we have seen the air force
is trying to do, we will be able to reach some of their camps, get their leaders and bring them to book.
The efforts of the military are yielding success in reaching the most difficult areas.

“A lot of these areas are ungoverned, because they are forest areas. Access to them is difficult in rainy
season but not impossible. With technology, we will be able to reach wherever they are and fish them
out.”
Meanwhile, Baba, who spoke after Tuesday’s meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) at State
House, Abuja, chaired by Buhari, said the president had directed sustained action to end the menace of
selective abduction and killings in the North-central and North-west geopolitical zones.

Briefing newsmen after the close-door meeting, Baba stated, “The new marching order is that all the
service chiefs and intelligence chiefs have been warned to go and reinvigorate efforts and to do more so
that the North-central and Nigeria at large should enjoy better security.”

The IG, who acknowledged government’s responsibility to secure the citizenry, admitted that more
needed to be done to change the insecurity narrative pervading the North-central and North-west, as
well as other parts of the country.

He said, “The president also observed and made a remark that the constitutional responsibility of
government is the provision of security, and he is ready to provide such. We should reinvigorate our
efforts, which are yielding results in the North-east, South-east.

“But there is more to be done in the North-central, North-west, where people are worried and he has
intelligence and information that schoolchildren and students are abducted, selective abductions and
killings are done. This narrative must change.”

The IG added that the security chiefs had assured the president that they would try their best to
improve the security narrative.

Baba said on their meeting with Buhari, “We have assured him and promised that we will make efforts
to do more. He also thanked and praised us for what has been done so far; that we should improve
much so that people can go about their lawful businesses within the quickest possible means.”

Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), also revealed after the meeting that six more
Tucano jets would be in the country by next week to boost the fight against insurgency and other
criminalities bedevilling the country. Magashi stressed that the initial six Tucano jets that the Nigerian
Air Force (NAF) took delivery of recently were currently being test run while the Chief of Air Staff would
soon give further details on the issue.

The minister told journalists, “We are just testing the Tucano jets. Six are still coming by the end of,
maybe, next week. So, when the 12 of them are here, I think the Chief of Air Staff will brief you on the
operations that they are to undertake as soon as possible.”

Magashi expressed government’s concern over the unfolding insecurity in Zamfara State and the North-
central, but assured the people of military’s determination to change the narrative.

According to him, “We believe that the rate at which these things are happening in Zamfara State and
North-central is a source of concern to the government and to all agencies that are responsible for the
execution of the operations in the North-central. “We discussed the need for urgency in our dealing with
the bandits. We believe they’re becoming a nuisance; killing people, they are doing what they like, they
make careless statements, they say what they think they should say in order to solicit the kind of
audience they want from the society.”

The defence minister said the meeting also appraised the developments, generally, which required all
hands on deck.

He stated, “We have appraised our position, we’ve found that we are capable, we can do this thing, but
we need the cooperation of every Nigerian in order to ensure a free society.

“Security, as far as this country is concerned, is the paramount important thing. Without security,
nothing will happen and the Commander-in-Chief has emphasised this today that without security,
nothing can go on. So, he has directed us to find ways, tactics and style with which we can get out of this
and we assured him.”

Further assuring of the preparedness of the security agencies to end the menace of insecurity in the
country, Magashi said, “We will do our best to ensure the mission is successful and we will do all we can
to ensure the completion of this mission, especially, when equipment and other things are available to
support the course of our tactical manoeuvres and that we will do very well from now.”

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/09/08/masari-with-hindsight-we-should-never-have-
negotiated-with-bandits/

Insecurity has robbed us of so much investment, put so much fear on our psyche, and polarized without
any unanimity of purpose, the nation more than ever before. Insecurity has become our gravest
quagmire. The term bandits sounds as though we are making a joke of the situation. They are terrorists
because of their derring attacks

Mayitti allah still galavanting and making such provokative statements (ban on open grazing is satanic,
Benue state did it what is happening in Benue now is there peace in the state?) by the secretary of the
socio-economic movement seems to suggest that their arrogance stems from the fact that they have
one of them in power. The silence of the federal government has in no small measure emboldened the
mayitti Allah to make certain utterances and in extension the bandits parading under the cloack of
herders. Asking for the grazing routes to be gazetted is fuelling the crisis, provocation and killings.

Grazing reserve bill and other livestock bill instead of the anti-grazing bill.

The silence of the president sadly has come to be what we have resigned to, we have been left to our
own fate, Buhari has always been silence and we are glad that he came and had his time for if he had
not gotten this chance, probably people would have been queuing to worship his grave as a great
messiah that was never given the opportunity.