In the midst of mourning the recent death of their Emir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, who was brutally murdered by bandits, the people of Gobir in Sokoto State have faced yet another tragedy. Bandits have reportedly invaded the community once more, abducting over 150 people.
This information was disclosed by Professor Bello Bada during an interview with Radio France International (RFI) Hausa Service, monitored in Kaduna on Sunday. Professor Bada alleged that the continued activities of bandits in the region stem from significant lapses on various fronts.
He emphasized that these lapses have emboldened the bandits to the extent that they once threatened to kidnap former President Muhammadu Buhari while he was still in office. “This isn’t the first time a prominent monarch has been attacked, but it is the first time one has been killed,” Professor Bada stated.
He described the murder of the Emir of Gobir as a humiliation to all Nigerians and called for a collective reassessment of the ongoing banditry that continues to claim lives across the country. He recalled similar incidents, such as the attack on the Emir of Potiskum, who narrowly escaped death while traveling to Zaria, and the Emir of Kauran Namoda, who also survived an attack, though members of his entourage were killed. Additionally, he mentioned the slaughter of a monarch in the Zuru community by bandits, emphasizing that such heinous acts are quickly forgotten until the bandits strike again.
Professor Bada stressed that these actions should not be allowed to become a recurring pattern, asserting that the origins of the bandits are known, yet appropriate measures have not been taken against them.
In the same vein, Dr. Yahuza Getso, a security analyst, has called for accountability among the security operatives who failed to prevent the murder of the late Emir of Gobir, who was held captive by bandits for over three weeks before his death. Dr. Getso noted the rising tension within the Gobir community following the Emir’s killing, pointing out that the bandits’ activities have caused deep divisions among the Gobirawa, Hausa, and Fulani people in the area.
Dr. Getso also asserted that the leaders of the bandits terrorizing the Northwest region are well-known, as are their origins, families, and those supplying them with logistics. He expressed confidence that security forces possess the expertise to confront this issue head-on but suggested that they lack the necessary political support to effectively tackle the menace.
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