Following the crackdown on suspected insurgents and bandits’ hideouts in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state by the police Wednesday, Nigerians have called on the police to sustain the tempo and extend same to Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Benue and other parts of the country facing security challenge.
At the end of the seven-hour operation, police said they killed 250 suspected insurgents and bandits operating around Birni Gwari and Kudaru forest.
Of recent, Kaduna had become notorious for all manners of crimes, including kidnapping, banditry and related others.
The most recent ones were the killing of a seminarian, Michael Nnadi and one Mrs. Philip Ataga, a doctor’s wife whose kids (2) were still being help captives with a N20 million ransom placed on them.
Nigerians speak
Commending the feats, Alhaji Sani Haruna Dutsinma, a journalist and resident of Dutsinma town, headquarters of Dutsinma local government area of Katsina state, said it was a great effort by the police not only in Kaduna and the whole of North-west states, but the entire country.
While urging the police to intensify further effort at “making life miserable for these criminals,” Dutsinma called on the federal government through the Police Service Commission (PSC) to provide adequate incentive, modern weapons as well as training and retraining for the police to repel criminals in their hideouts across the country.
Also speaking, a resident of Gusau, Zamfara state capital, Malam Muhammad Munirat Nasir, lauded the security agency and urged it to extend its tentacles to other areas under siege from the criminals.
He similarly called on the federal government to ensure the availability of necessary logistics not only to the Nigerian Police, but other sister security agencies and work harmoniously together to end the menace in the country.
Same views were expressed by another resident, Malam Shuaibu Ibrahim Samaru who believed the police had demonstrated what they were capable of doing.
Reaction on Killing of 250 Bandits, Insurgents in Kaduna
Benue
In a similar reaction, a former minister of state for education, Professor Jerry Agada, said: “The killing of 250 bandits and insurgents in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state, shows that the police are now waking up. But they must be sure that those killed are really bandits and insurgents not innocent people.
“It is our expectations that they will also employ the use of soft power approach in the battle against insecurity rather than always embarking on brutal force.
“Putting of high boots by soldiers or policemen to places of conflicts is not the best way of resolving issues of insecurity, but it is an alternative to be used when necessary.”
Plateau
Expressing similar view, some in Jos, Plateau state, Ms. Fai’za Kabir Adam, said the police efforts were signs of enforcement and that the force was up to the task of maintaining law and order within the country.
“They can do that true more hard work, sincere commitment and passion for their country”.
She said the police were jolted by the emergence of Amotekum(South-west security outfit), community policing, the Shige Ka Fasa (North) and others across the country.
“But notwithstanding, I sincerely commended their efforts and also urge them to strive hard, ensure that they do not rest on the oars, or get carried away by the successes recorded.
“And I think by this singular act, if additional modern weapons will be given to them, they are up to the task and they can do it,” she said.
Katsina/Kaduna
Also speaking to Blueprint, a Katsina-based activist, Comrade Inuwa Garbati Mashi, said the killing of the suspected criminals was an indication police, under the Inspector General of Police Muhammad Adamu leadership, had woken up from their slumber.
He said: “From my personal experience, the police force, these days are performing far better than any other security agency, most especially in Kaduna, Katsina and Maiduguri.”
The activist, who also recalled the rescue of over 30 persons from kidnappers’ den in Katsina state, said this had demonstrated the readiness of the force to be up and doing.
Speaking in the same vein, a commercial driver, Malam Kallamu Buba, called on the federal government to provide the force with the needed equipment to tackle the nation’s security challenges.
He said: “With that exploit, the police have shown that the security challenges are not beyond them. They are closer to the people than any other security agency, so they stand better chance of getting intelligence from the people. All the federal government need do is to give necessary support in terms of the right tools to maintain internal security.”
Nigerians want police to cleanse forests, highways, villages of bandits
Another respondent, Alhaji Tijjani Tajudeen who is based in Kaduna, tasked the police to storm other hideouts of bandits and kidnappers in Niger, Zamfara, Katsina states to smoke them out and cleanse Nigerian forests of criminals.
“We should give kudos to the police for such rare feat. But having shown that they have such capacity, they should make inroad into other forests in Niger, Zamfara and Katsina states to attack the bandits and kidnappers terrorising the people in those states.”
For Madam Doo Samuel, it is a new dawn for Nigerian police. “But they need to carry out such feat against kidnappers, bandits and cattle rustlers attacking and killing people in Southern Kaduna, in Niger and Zamfara states. They should also rid Nigerian highways and villages of killers so that Nigerians can live in peace.”
Show evidence- Sani
A former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has reacted to reports on the neutralisation of Ansaru bandits in the state by the police, challenging the NPF to show proof of killing.
The former lawmaker said that this is necessary because, according to him, Nigerians need evidence to believe any report.
On his Twitter page Thursday, February 6, Sani called on the police to show proof of the feat in their recent operation.
The former lawmaker said that doing this is important because for most Nigerians, evidence is the only condition for trust and belief.
“My advice to our forces fighting the Ansaru in Kaduna;just invite the media and show them the ‘250 bandits casualties’ and those you captured during your operations;for most people nowadays, seeing is believing”.
But reacting to the remarks and comments by Senator Sani another Twitter user, Kabiru Usman Misali, accused Sani of politicising the matter.
On his Twitter handle, Misali said: “It is a shame that Sani is only politicising the issue.”
Police foil kidnap in Niger
Meanwhile, police in Niger state have foiled the attempt by suspected bandits to kidnap foreigners working with a construction company located in Lapai area of the state.
The suspects were reported to have invaded the premises of the company identified as CGC at about 2110 hours February 3, 2020, shooting sporadically with sophisticated weapons.
Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Mohammed Abubakar confirmed the incident to journalists Thursday in Minna, the state capital.
He said the kidnap mission was foiled by stiff resistance of police counter terrorist unit posted on guard beat attached to the company.
He said: “Following the superior fire power of the police, the assailants escaped to the bush. The police are on the trail of the assailants while more men have been deployed to the area to beef up security in the company.”
Similarly, the PPRO said the police also raided a kidnappers’ den at Kafin-Koro area of the state and rescued two abducted teenage girls.
He said one of the suspected kidnappers identified as Moune Bello, was arrested during rescue operation.
Abubakar also said two other villagers allegedly acting as spies for bandits and supplying them with drugs, were also arrested for aiding and abetting armed banditry in Mariga local government of the state.
While saying the suspects claimed to have been forced to supply the drugs, the police spokesman said the fact that they did not report the incident to the police was enough to indict them.
