Kebbi Govt: No Village Under Bandits’ Control

The government of Kebbi State claims that no village is ruled by bandits, who are said to nominate traditional leaders to the state and render decisions in Sharia courts.

Sen. Umar Abubakar-Tafida, the state’s deputy governor, refuted the story during a press conference held in his Birnin Kebbi office on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. T.

“There is no single village, in the whole of Kebbi State, where bandits are in-charge of Sharia courts or have appointed village heads of their choice,” he stated.

“The report is false, with no iota of truth; this is just the imagination of writers of such news. We do not have a bandit base or camp in Kebbi.

These marauders infiltrated from neighboring states, and from Niger Republic to Kebbi through their informants to strike and retreat.”

Abubakar-Tafida promised that the state administration has implemented sharp and practical measures to stop the banditry.

“The delegation sent by the state government under the leadership of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen.

Atiku Bagudu to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa has held a fruitful discussion with the military high-command.”

“This discussion was on ways to wipe out banditry and insurgency in Kebbi, Northwest and the North generally,” he said.

According to Abubakar-Tafida, N92.5 million has already been given to the relatives of those killed in the bandits’ raid on Friday, November 7.

“Gov. Nasir Idris donated N50 million, Sen. Bagudu gave N30 million, members of the National Assembly from the state donated N10 million while Minister of State for Humanitarian Services, Dr Tanko Sununu, donated N2.5 million to the families.
 

“We are grateful to them for their condolence visit to Mera in Augie Local Government Area, as well as their benevolence to the victims.”