Bandits take over Sokoto LG, appoint traditional rulers, others

In a troubling development, bandits have taken control of a significant portion of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State, where they have begun appointing traditional rulers and mediating community disputes.

Sharifu Kamarawa, the chairman of Isa Local Government, revealed this during a visit by the Minister of State for Defence on Thursday.

The minister was in the area to assess the performance of military troops stationed there.

He said: “Bandits have taken over parts of my local government area and act as traditional rulers, and judges. Sir, they have become authority of their own. They even mediate and settle disputes communities.

“It’s very painful, sir, that we have no control or authority over our people in that axis, including my village Kamarawa.

“Bello Turji, Dan Bokolo, Garso and many bandits kingpin are moving freely and exercising their powers over our people without challenge.

“Honorable Minister sir, part of my council area have become a safe heaven for bandits and other criminal gangs. Please, come to our aid. We are in dire in need of your support to free our people.

“Our communities are in shackles. They need to be free; to have a sense of belonging that they are Nigerians.

“They tax, and collect levy from, the communities at will,” stated the council chairman.

The affected communities
Parts of Bandits controlled areas in Sokoto are Gebe, Kamarawa Arume, Bafarawa and many other villages along the border with Niger Republic.

He added that, “Sir, as you have observed on your way to Isa, only one village named Gundumi is still standing. All villages have been deserted along the 120 kilometers road due to activities of Bandits.

“Sir, provide troops to liberate our people from the shackles of banditry, which has eaten deep in to the life and economy of our people who are peasant farmers.

“Thousands of hecters of farmlands cannot be assess by our people. There will be food crisis in my council area, except urgent measures are put in place by the government.”

Below are photos of abandoned villages: