Survivors of Tuesday’s deadly attack by bandits on Gidan Mantau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State have narrated their ordeal, saying after recovering over 50 bodies, they are still searching for more people in the bushes.
They, therefore, called on both the federal and Katsina State government to intervene to save them from further assaults.
Daily Trust reports that for nearly three days, only skeletal information on the level of carnage was coming from the hard-to-reach Gidan Mantau, which had been infested by bandits and therefore inaccessible for government officials and rescue workers.
One of our reporters who managed to visit the village and surrounding communities, yesterday, reported that the people were under siege.
He said the road leading to the community was completely deserted as there were no security operatives on sight to repel further attack.
Survivors said it took several hours before officials of the Katsina State Government visited the area, and that they stopped by the main road to address the distraught locals and community leaders.
It was learnt that many families who did not see their loved ones among the dead are now combing the bushes with the support of acquaintances.
They said the death toll has climbed to 55, well above the 34 officially confirmed by authorities.
The villagers recalled that just a year ago, over 20 people were killed by bandits in a similar incident.
This comes as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, yesterday expressed concern over renewed violence in Katsina and other parts of the North West.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, General Musa said the military has intensified operations nationwide, but admitted that killings in the region, including the recent massacre of worshippers in Malumfashi, remain disturbing.
Daily Trust gathered that the terror group believed to have carried out this latest carnage is under the leadership of a notorious bandits’ kingpin, Mustapha Babaro, who is said to be carrying out his operations in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and parts of Zamfara State.
It was gathered that after the attack on the mosque, the bandits went round the village, killing and abducting people.
The affected families who spoke to our reporters yesterday could not hold back tears as they recounted their ordeal during the dawn raid.
They said the attackers, who they estimated to be about 100, stormed the community at dawn while villagers were observing morning prayers.
Family of 15 wiped out
According to residents, in one house, an entire family of 15 was wiped out.
“The entire family here, numbering about 15, was locked up and burnt alive. I am speechless. I don’t know where to start. I’ve been left alone. For years, we have been rendered poor by banditry. They attack us every year,” he said.
A woman who lost her family in the attack, said, “My husband and children have been killed. I am alone and confused. The trauma is unbearable. What have we done to deserve this? Please help us in the spirit of humanity. Tell the government we are dying; we are being killed for an offence we know nothing about.”
Daily Trust gathered that in total, 15 houses were set ablaze, ten people killed in the inferno, while over 100 women, children, the elderly, and even pregnant women were abducted.
“We have been crying for help, but nothing has been done. We reported the sighting of bandits early in the morning of that day, yet until the next day, no action was taken. Both the state and federal governments must sit up. Since the attack, you (Trust TV correspondents) are the first people to visit us. Please forward our complaints to the authorities.
“Generally speaking, we feel like we are not human beings. We have been abandoned. We lost everything, our loved ones were killed and others were abducted. Kindly tell the government to rescue us from the bandits,” a resident lamented.
For many people in Unguwar Mantau, life has become unbearable. They said they feel abandoned and forgotten and urged the government to rescue them and their loved ones from captivity and provide security.
Daily Trust reports that there have been increased attacks in recent weeks, especially in the southern part of Katsina State, while some LGAs in the central part are enjoying relative peace courtesy of forced peace deals they entered into with the bandits.
Half-hazard peace deal counterproductive – Gen Galma
A security expert, Major Bashir Galma (rtd) said the kind of peace negotiations taking place in some parts of the state were done to the detriment of other parts, hence more or less counterproductive.
“We have said it time and again that even if one state enters into a peace deal with bandits, without other contiguous states that are affected, it will yield little or no results, not to talk of some local governments with the exclusion of others.
“This is because if you are into a peace agreement in your state, if those in other states came under military onslaught, they will definitely move to your state and continue to commit their atrocities.
“And even in the same estate, what guarantee do you have that all the different camps have agreed to live in peace with you? What guarantee do you have that if you negotiate with the leaders, their foot soldiers will not think that they have collected some money that did not reach them, hence pick up their arms again?
“Now, let’s look at the peace deals. What do you do to the affected families; civilians, soldiers and other security personnel that lost their loved ones in the course of duty? Let’s assume the security personnel are combatants, their case may be different, what of the civilians who are desecrated, killed maimed, kidnaped and forced to pay ransom? Do you expect them to say okay, we are in peace agreement, so all those that committed the atrocities should continue to mingle within the communities without any legal action taken against them? All these issues make the peace deals unsustainable,” he said.
When asked about the way out, Major Glama said the only solution is for all the northern political and other leaders to put work together and be committed to ending the menace, “otherwise it will not end, with the way it is being handled at the moment.
“The whole issue has been politicised and it is our problem in the north. Nobody will come from somewhere and solve it for us. Unless and until our political leaders are willing to end this problem, the north will continue to bleed,” he said.
Talking about the Katsina mosque attack, Major Galma said communities and even security agents should note that whenever they secure victory over the bandits, they must be vigilant because the criminals would regroup for reprisals sooner or later.
Fresh violence in Katsina, North West worrisome – Defence Chief
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, yesterday lent his voice to the crisis in Katsina State and the North West in general. He expressed concern over the renewed violence in the region despite recent gains by the military against terrorists.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Musa said the military has intensified operations nationwide, but admitted that killings in the region, including the recent attack on worshippers in Malumfashi, remain disturbing.
“These are evil and deranged individuals going around because of ideologies they feel people must accept,” he said. “If you are not with them, then you are an enemy. They don’t respect religion or borders, and that is very critical.”
The Defence Chief disclosed that the military has arrested key commanders and over 200 other terror suspects in recent operations, describing the feat as one of the most significant breakthroughs in the fight against insecurity.
“This shows that intelligence and operations are working together. The synergy we now have with all security agencies is yielding results. It’s not going to stop overnight, but I can assure Nigerians that things are improving by the day,” Musa said.
He, however, stressed that citizens must also play their part by refusing to shield terrorists and their collaborators. “Why this thing keeps on thriving is because we still have individuals that are hiding them for one reason or another,” he said.
On the issue of terrorism financing, General Musa said government is making progress but stressed that legal and international complications were slowing down the process.
“The process is on. Just last week, the Attorney General and others went to GIWA to check, because it has to do with a lot of legal issues. Some of them have funds coming from outside and we cannot do anything from within,” he explained.
He noted that local financiers were also being tracked, adding, “The local ones normally employ a few individuals, provide motorcycles to them, and those ones are remitting funds daily into some accounts. We have been doing so much, arrests have been made, and I can assure you that the Attorney General of the Federation and the NSA are working seriously to address these issues”.
The Defence Chief warned that terrorism and banditry were now intertwined with political undertones.
“They synergise their efforts; the bandits and terrorists, because they have a common goal. They want to make money, they want communities to suffer. And again, some part of politics is involved. When there is peace, it shows the government is doing well. When there is no peace, it shows the government is not doing well.
“Last year we had the least number of deaths throughout the year. Then how come this year, suddenly, everything has piped up? Politics is coming in, elections are coming in. Some people are controlling them to show there is no peace and to discredit government,” he stated.
He lamented that Nigeria’s legal system was frustrating their sacrifices.
“You make an arrest, risk your life, and when you take it to court, for one reason or the other, technical issues, the person is released. Tomorrow, you think that soldier is ready to sacrifice himself again? It becomes a problem,” he said.
According to him, the country needs stricter laws and faster trials for terrorism cases.
“We need to unbundle the legal system, make it faster and more stringent. Once people know they cannot get away with anything, impunity will stop. Maybe if we have special courts, then we can treat these cases as quickly as possible.
“Disaster started since Libya fell. Now, Libya is in turmoil, Sudan is in turmoil, the Sahel is open. They have markets where you can buy any kind of weapon openly. Everybody flows through and then Nigeria becomes the target because they feel Nigeria is rich and large,” he said.
“We should never allow anybody, any foreigner, an inch of our land for whatever reason. These guys come in and we say, ‘look, these are our brothers, our sisters’, but they don’t mean good for us. Boko Haram, when they started, that was the issue. We allowed them to fester until they became monsters,” Musa warned.
General Musa urged Nigerians to appreciate the sacrifices of troops on the frontlines, saying morale is boosted when their efforts are recognised. He maintained that the military would not relent until peace and stability are fully restored across the country.
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