District Head of Batsari in Katsina State, North-West Nigeria, Tukur Mu’azu, has raised the alarm that bandits fleeing military onslaught from neighbouring Zamfara State are making tents and taking over farming communities and villages within Batsari Local Government Area of the state.
Muazu who was speaking to ait.live in his palace explained that the relocation of the bandits was a result of the ongoing onslaught against them in the forest areas of Zamfara and Katsina States.
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He, therefore, called on the security agencies to deploy more personnel to the affected areas, to enable farmers harvest their crops.
Batsari Local Government Area is one of the frontline areas worst hit by the activities of bandits, due to its proximity to Zamfara State and the dreaded Rugu Forest.
The residents of the area are predominantly farmers, who cultivate largely sesame, millets, maize, guinea corn, sweet potatoes and sugarcane, among other crops.
Speaking on the current security situation in the area, the District Head said, appreciable successes have been recorded, as attacks by bandits are not as they used to be.
He attributed the success largely to the ongoing onslaught against the bandits in the forest, as well as the Security Challenges Containment Order, signed and being enforced by the State Government.
He gave the names of the communities where the bandits are now hiding to include Yasore, Duba, Sabon-Garin Dunburawa, Bakin-ragi and Labo.
The District Head explained that these communities are facing similar security challenges, as according to him, the residents are finding it difficult to harvest their crops.
As part of the 13 local government areas affected by the Security Challenges Containment Order, shutting down telecommunication services, Mu’azu said the move has helped to cut-off communication between the bandits and their informants.
He, therefore, urged his subjects to exercise patience, even as they are facing hardship in their businesses, saying, with the successes being recorded, all the measures will soon be lifted and they will return to their normal way of life soon.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
