Security

Residents faces hunger as bandits sack farming communities in Northwest Nigeria

Published

2 years ago

July 18, 2022

News Net Global

Residents faces hunger as bandits sack farming communities in Northwest Nigeria

By: Zagazola Makama

Kwata, a small farming settlement in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state in Northwest Nigeria is one of the several farming communities sacked by bandits in recent years.

The bandits in a series of coordinated attacks sacked communities with impunity, forcing peasant farmers to abandon their homes and farmlands.

As the wet season sets in, thousands of farmers could not cultivate their farmlands for fear of attacks by the merciless bandits who killed, maimed, kidnapped and raped women in the troubled areas of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger State in central Nigeria.

The banditry, which started as farmers, harders crises in 2011, has embolded into a full blown terrorism 2016, resulting to the death of over 4000 and displacement of atleast 309,000 persons at of 30 June 2022.

Zamfara state accommodates about 69,000 IDPs, Kaduna 71,000, Katsina 61,000, Sokoto 45,000, while at least 3,000 have crossed the border through the axis of Maradi to take refuge in Niger Republic.

The large-scale displacement of farmers across the region portends potential threats to food security and exposes the most populous country in the African continent to possible food shortage, hunger and starvation.

Apart from incessant attacks on farmers, the bandits demanded farmers in Kwata village to pay N1.2 million levy equivalent to about $2,500 US dollars, to allow them to access and cultivate their farmlands.

Farmers who broke the laws were trapped by the armed bandits, especially when they attempted to work on their farms, leaving their farmlands uncultivated.

Subsequently, the farmers resumed cultivating their farmlands to produce cereal crops as the only means of livelihood.

However, the bandits reneged on the agreement to allow the farmers work on their farms after payment made to the terrorist group.

Infuriated by resumption of farming activities by the farmers, the bandits ransacked the community, killed 50 persons, razed houses, destroyed farmlands, rustled cattle, abducted 12 women and two men.

Rabiu Musa, a farmer, said we paid N1.2m yet the bandits prevented us from accessing our farms to cultivate crops.

He said the bandits set animals to graze on the farmlands, and destroyed potato, beans and maize plantations.

Another farmer, Saidu Samaila, who hailed from Gidan Dodo village, said the bandits banned farmers from working in the farmlands after collecting N6 million equivalent to $7,000 US dollars from the farmers.

He said the farmers tasked every household in the community to contribute a certain amount of money to enable them to pay the levy imposed on them by the bandits.

“I and other farmers fled the village after bandits’ attack and took refuge at Kaura Namoda town in the last three months.

“The bandits set three vehicles and nine silos ablaze, my wife and children are staying with relatives in another town. My village is now deserted.

“Presently, I scavenge for leftover produce in the nearby farms to survive,” he said.

Narrating her ordeal in the hands of the bandits who were abducted during one of the attacks on the community, a widow, simply identified as Maryama, said the bandits invaded her village around 4:00 a.m. (GMT).

She said the attackers who engaged in sporadic shooting, gun down anyone on their sight except women.

She alleged that the bandits killed over 50 people, mostly adult and male children.

“Women loss their love ones and left to raise children of the deceased, killed by the terrorists.

“Three months later, the bandits launched a fresh attack on the village, killing two persons 2, injuring one and abducted 14 others including myself.

“I stayed for 15 days at the kidnappers’ den alongside Asiya, Halima and 12 others.

“We stayed with little or nothing to eat day and night.

“I eventually regained freedom after the community members who survived the attacks paid a ransom of N7.2 million equivalent to over $7,000 dollars demanded by the terrorists,” she said.

Also Read: Osinbajo Confirms Admission In Hospital, To Undergo Surgery

Also, Mariya Aliyu, Aina’u Ali Ja’afar and Haulatu Isa, who lost their husbands in the attacks, said they now fend for the children orphaned by the bandits.

Aliyu, a mother of seven children, said she now took refuge at a makeshift shelter in Kaura Namoda.

“I am now staying in Kaura Namoda with my kids , we hardly had one meal a day.

“I fled for my life without taking my personal belongings from my home. I have nowhere to go or what to eat,” she said tearfully.

Jafa’ar and Isa, who shared similar experiences with Aliyu, said they now engaged in street begging to feed their children.

They urged the government at the federal and state level to assist them with food and shelter as well as secure the region to enable them to return to their ancestral homes.

On June 6, The Nigerian Red Cross Society raised an alarm over food insecurity in the North West and North Central in Nigeria, saying “The situation is critical and is one that needs immediate attention.

The Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Abubakar Kende was quoted in the statement issued by Chima Nwankwo and Aduratomi Bolade, of Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) respectively to have said: “Millions are being affected, particularly women, the elderly, and vulnerable children.

“A good number of them are now in a situation where they do not know where their next meal will come from, and this is something that concerns us greatly.”

“The current situation is making the Nigerian Red Cross Society to take action to fight hunger in North-West and North-Central Nigeria where United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) has estimated that about 19.4 million people will be facing acute hunger between June and August 2022,” said Bolade in the statement. End.

Zagazola Makama is a Security Analyst and a Counter Insurgency Expert in Lake Chad.

Residents faces hunger as bandits sack farming communities in Northwest Nigeria

News

Protest: NHRC Asks Security Agencies to Provide Adequate Protection for Protesters

Published

2 months ago

October 1, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Right Commission has urged security agencies to provide adequate protection for individuals exercising their right to protest.

The advised was given on Monday in Abuja, following Twarnings by the government and security agencies against the planned protest against hardship by Civil Society Organisations.

Speaking at a press conference, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, also urged the Federal government to provide adequate security for the journalists that would be covering the protest.

Ojukwu asked the Federal Government to put in place a mechanism to hold security agencies accountable for any abuses committed during protests and warmed against any form of barriers during the protest.

He advised protesters to carry out their protest within the ambit of the law.

He said: “We call on the federal and state government to ensure that the October protests are peaceful and that the protesters are given the necessary support and leverage to conduct themselves in civilized manner, including protecting them from counter-protesters and mobs.”
He also added that both federal and state government and their institutions are obliged to facilitate peaceful assemblies.

“This includes ensuring safety, providing necessary infrastructure, and taking measures to prevent disruptions from counter-demonstrators or hostile forces.
“Government should provide adequate protection for protesters against violence or intimidation as well as facilitate peaceful assemblies through appropriate measures.

“Government must put in place effective Accountability Mechanisms for holding the law enforcement and security agencies accountable for any abuses committed during protests. This includes investigating incidents where excessive force was used or where protesters were unlawfully detained.

“Government must deploy its apparatus for the protection of private and public properties as well as the lives of protesters and non-protesters before, during and after the protests.”

He insisted that the right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right recognized internationally, regionally, and at national level.

He noted that “In Nigeria, this right is enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and further strengthened by international and regional human rights instruments. Section 40 provides that: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.

“Furthermore, article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) provides that “Every individual shall have the right to assemble freely with others.

“The right to peaceful assembly is the cornerstone stone of our liberty and an essential instrument for promoting the values of democracy and good governance. Protests are legitimate means of voicing dissatisfactions and participating in shaping citizen-centred governance and development outcomes.”

He stressed that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Human Rights Council have put in place a set of principles which should guide the promotion and protection of the right to peaceful assembly.

The principles he said include: “Non-discrimination: All individuals should be able to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly without discrimination based on race, gender, political affiliation, or any other status.

“Legitimate Restrictions: While freedom of association and assembly is fundamental, it can be subject to restrictions. However, such restrictions must be lawful, necessary in a democratic society, and proportionate to the aim pursued. This means that any limitations imposed by Nigerian authorities must not infringe upon the essence of these rights.

“Protection from Violence: The state has an obligation to protect individuals exercising their rights from violence or intimidation by third parties. This includes ensuring that protests can occur without fear of repression, prosecution or violent backlash.

“Notification Requirements: Requirements for pre-notification of law enforcement should not serve as barriers but rather facilitate peaceful protests. Notification requirement should not be burdensome and not hinder the exercise of this right.

“Use of Force: Any use of force by law enforcement during protests must adhere strictly to principles of necessity and proportionality. Excessive use of force against protesters, including shooting or the deployment of tear gas is a violation of human rights and dignity.”

He said: “Exercise your right to peaceful protest within the ambits of the law, be very civil and respect the rights of others.
“Avoid violence, destruction of property, and harmful behaviour, this is detrimental to nation building, the destruction caused may take fortune to regain which will be a great set back to our development.

“Cooperate with law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety by conducting yourselves with highest sense of modesty and civility.

“Refrain from hate speech and divisive rhetoric, abusive words and foul language.
“Respect the rights of others, including those who may hold differing opinions, that is the beauty of democracy.

“Ensure that your actions do not infringe on the rights of non-protesters, as everybody must not be on the street protesting.

He promised that the NHRC will be monitoring the protests across Nigeria and will ensure that state and non-state actors violating the right to protests and other associated human rights will be held accountable.

For the security operatives, Ojukwu urged them to “Respect the rights of protesters to peaceful assembly and expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and other Regional and International Instruments that Nigeria is a Party to.

“Avoid excessive force and ensure proportionate response to situations, do no harm and do not force the protesters to react in a manner that is riotious.
“Protect journalists and media personnel from harassment, allow them to carry out their duties as the fourth arm of the government and as enshrined in the constitution.

“Facilitate dialogue between protesters and relevant stakeholders, this will rather assist you in discharging your role seamlessly, do not look at them as your enemies.
“Ensure that arrests and detentions are carried out in accordance with the law and not because you merely want to deal with people.

“Provide necessary assistance and support to vulnerable individuals, do not overlook any opportunity to render help.”

Protest: NHRC Asks Security Agencies to Provide Adequate Protection for Protesters

Military

Nigerian Troops eliminate 8 Boko Haram Terrorists in Raid in enclaves

Published

4 months ago

July 29, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Nigerian Troops eliminate 8 Boko Haram Terrorists in Raid in enclaves

By: Zagazola Makama

The troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in conjunction with hybrid forces and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), nutrialised eight Boko Haram terrorists when it raided the terrorists enclaves in Bula Marwa in Bama Local Government area.

It was gathered that the troops recorded the feats on July 28, 2024, when it made contact with the terrorists and neutralized eight of them ahead of Siraja village, forcing others to flee.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops subsequently exploited the general area but made no further contact.

The sources said that the operation resulted in the recovery of one Anti-Government Launcher (AGL) and one MK 4 rifle, as well as a bag containing a pair of desert camouflage uniforms and other terrorist uniforms.

Nigerian Troops eliminate 8 Boko Haram Terrorists in Raid in enclaves

News

Joint Military-NDLEA Operation Seizes 2.5 tonnes of Illicit Substances Bound for Terrorist Groups

Published

5 months ago

July 9, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Joint Military-NDLEA Operation Seizes 2.5 tonnes of Illicit Substances Bound for Terrorist Groups

By: Zagazola Makama

A joint operation between the troops of 21 Armored Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted a large consignment of illicit substances destined for Boko Haram Terrorists in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that acting on intelligence, the joint team launched a swift and decisive operation to disrupt the supply of illicit substances to the terrorist groups.

The operation, which was carried out following a tip-off, resulted in the recovery of 163 bags of the substance, equivalent to 2.5 tons in a warehouse in Konduga.

The suspected illicit substances, known as “Goom” or “Akusukura”, is a deadly psychoactive substance that represents a serious threat to public health and poses a challenge for drug policy.

The substance, which is of different varieties, is used in both liquid and powdered form by people who mostly seek to raise their levels of psychological or nervous activity in the body, or put it in simple terms, get high.

The recovered items were handed over to the NDLEA team leader, and the area was cordoned off by the military.

The operation highlights the effectiveness of interagency collaboration and the commitment of the military and NDLEA to keeping Nigeria safe.

Joint Military-NDLEA Operation Seizes 2.5 tonnes of Illicit Substances Bound for Terrorist Groups