The Chairman of Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Sharifu Kamarawa, has disclosed that bandits are still in control of many towns and villages in the region and in many cases, responsible for appointing and deposing village heads.
The chairman revealed this in his remarks when the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle visited some communities in eastern Isa, Sabon Birni and Goronyo local governments area of the state.
Kamarawa said the bandits being led by Bello Turji, appoint and depose village heads in those areas.
He said: “Bandits have taken over parts of my local government area and act as traditional rulers, and judges. Sir, they have become authority of their own. They even mediate and settle disputes communities.
“It’s very painful, sir, that we have no control or authority over our people in that axis, including my village Kamarawa.
“Bello Turji, Dan Bokolo, Garso and many bandits kingpin are moving freely and exercising their powers over our people without challenge.
“Honorable Minister sir, part of my council area have become a safe heaven for bandits and other criminal gangs. Please, come to our aid. We are in dire in need of your support to free our people.
“Our communities are in shackles. They need to be free; to have a sense of belonging that they are Nigerians.
“They tax, and collect levy from, the communities at will,” stated the council chairman.
He added that, “Sir, as you have observed on your way to Isa, only one village named Gundumi is still standing. All villages have been deserted along the 120 kilometers road due to activities of Bandits.
“Sir, provide troops to liberate our people from the shackles of banditry, which has eaten deep in to the life and economy of our people who are peasant farmers.
“Thousands of hecters of farmlands cannot be assess by our people. There will be food crisis in my council area, except urgent measures are put in place by the government.”
