From Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
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| BALA MUHAMMAD Bauchi State Governor |
Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed has commiserated with Alkaleri Local Government communities recently attacked by Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers killing one person, and injured two.
The State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed while commiserated with the communities on Garin Sambo and Mansur Villages in Gwana District over the weekend, said his administration will establish a strong vigilante group to tackle bandits who have been kidnaping and killing residents.
Mohammed said that his administration is investigating reports that some members of the security and traditional institutions were collaborating with bandits to carry out kidnappings for ransom.
The Governor, who was in company of the Commssioner of Police, other top security Chiefs in the state, and Government functionaries, also visited Garin Sambo where bandits killed one and injured three persons in a failed kidnapped attempt.
He decried the blood letting by bandits and insurgents, assuring that the proposed vigilante would work closely with security agencies to neutralise them and fish out their collaborators within.
He promised that his administration would deal decisively with any member of the public who collaborate with bandits no matter how highly placed.
"We are going to form a strong vigilant arising from what we have signed as a government and we are going to employ some of our youths to carry their destiny upon their hands," he said.
"Very soon we are going to commence this process and we are going to do it and nobody will come and do it for us. We have to complement the Federal Government. They are doing their best and as a governor I have to commend the president."
"Without the police, the army, l am powerless as a governor. I will always partner with them. We thank the Federal Government"
He said his administration is investigating reports that some members of the traditional institutions in informants to bandits.
"From now you should know we are watching you and certainly the security agencies will do their jobs. We have intelligence from the security agencies of some collaborators from the towns and villages, from the traditional institutions, and even from the security agencies."
"l have received report from the people of the area that they want some security personnel to be transferred. And I think they we not going to disagree with that. We cannot surrender our sovereignty to insurgents."
He goes on further by saying, "we must go to the farm we must go to school, and we must go to our market. We are here on behalf of the Government and people of Bauchi State to pay our condolences over the monumental losses that we have experienced here. Many people have been killed by insurgents and we have come to identify with them. We are fulfilling our responsibility as Government and the security agencies are supporting us, and the local government is doing its best and the communities though is far from the local government."
Bala Muhammad added that, "I happen to come from this community and my mind is always here. I feel really sad for what is happening and we have taken a lot of initiative through the vigilante system, through through the structure system."
"We are taking measures that is why we are here to sympathise with you and to tell you that we are doing something," he said.
A resident of Garin Sambo village Yakubu Sabo and Jarman Yalo in Gwana told journalists that the bandits stormed the village at about 1am on Friday with the intention of kidnapping one Idi popularly known as ‘Bobi’ who is a commercial bus driver.
They said that their bid to go away with their target failed but in the process killed one person and injured two others who are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Futuk Residents said.
"The bandits scared residents away shooting sporadically but the villagers stood resilient forcing the bandits to flee into the nearby hills and bushes."
Another resident, Usman Bawa added that, “I was sleeping when I heard shouts and later sounds of bullets. Initially I thought that they were cattle thieves who had invaded the community because on two previous occasions, they had stolen our cows."
“I tried to come out but my wife held me back but I managed to free myself from her, came out and joined other villagers, together we faced the bandits. They were shooting at us but we were going after them until they ran into the nearby hills and bushes,” he said.
He added that, “We did not allow them to take anyone away but we lost one Umar, a gentleman and hardworking in the community. They have destabilise us but we will not allow them take anybody here again, enough is enough."
The villagers then called on the government to come to their aid as according to them, the bandits have areas of hiding within the hills and forest that surround the village.
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