Disturbed by the raising activities of suspected armed kidnappers around Alkaleri forest, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has charged residents of the affected communities to rise up and defend themselves from attacks of the gunmen.
In what appeared to be a reprisal attack, armed bandits have so far killed 20 people and wounded several others in villages surrounding Duguri District of Alkaleri LGA in Bauchi state.
A few weeks ago, Police in Bauchi in collaboration with local vigilantes stormed Alkaleri forest killing 12 suspected bandits including one of the kingpins that had terrorized the area.
The governor who visited the area on Thursday described the situation as an unfortunate and unacceptable trend that must be stopped at all costs.
Governor Bala lamented that the activities of bandits in the area are getting out of hand as the people can no longer engage in farming which is their mainstay.
He charged the residents of the area to enhance forth “rise up, take up arms and defend yourselves. You are known to be men, you should not allow these bad elements subdue you, defend your land and liberate yourselves.”
The governor also charged the people to search themselves and bring out the bad eggs amongst them who are serving as informants to the bandits stressing that without inside information, the bandits cannot operate.
Bala assured that his administration will continue to work assiduously in collaboration with the security agencies operating in the state to protect the lives and properties of innocent citizens.
At Kafin Duguri, the Governor commended the people for standing to defend themselves from the attacks of the bandits by wading them when they attempted to invade the village.
The Governor told them to take up arms against the bandits and kill them if they try to attack saying, “I know you, people, to be warriors including your women, rise up, defend your people and the neighbourhood from the activities of the bandits.
“That is the way it should be, we should defend ourselves from any form of banditry and criminal activities. What you did was the right thing and you should continue to do that even to your neighbours,” he said.
He however expressed optimism that very shortly banditry will come to an end in the area as “my administration will support you with logistics, equip you and arm you to be able to fight and repel the attackers.”
“From now on, anyone who comes to attack you to kill you, defend yourselves, attack and kill him, they can’t stop us from living in peace. All these communities have been existing over 500 years, we will not allow these Zamfarawa (bandits) to chase us away from our ancestral land,” the governor added.
He then assured that very soon a security outpost will be stationed in the area to collaborate with the locals to beef up security in the area just as he promised adequately compensate the families that lost their loved ones to the attack of the bandits.
Governor Bala also announced support for the families of those who lost their loved ones to the attacks. He said each male resident killed will be given N1,000,000 and N50,000,000 to women and children victims.
The Governor commended the District Head for trying his best to keep the people together in spite of the activities of the bandits urging him not to relent as a government will always support his efforts.
The District Head of Yelwa Duguri, Alh Adamu Mohammed Duguri lamented that the bandits had in recent times attacked communities in the area killing people, destroying their houses and rustling their cattle.
The District Head specifically mentioned Rimi village as the worst hit as 20 people were killed during the attacks while their attempt to attack Kafin Duguri failed as the villagers rose to defend their village.
