Niger Sends Security Personnel to Allawa Forest to Flush out Bandits

By Laleye Dipo

The Niger State Government is now set to flush out bandits from the Allawa Forest from where they have laid siege to the state and its people.

The plan is also aimed at securing the release of about 156 abducted pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina believed to be kept in the Allawa Forest.

No fewer than 1,000 heavily armed security operatives made up of personnel from the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence, the Nigeria Police and a huge number of vigilantes and local hunters were sent into the forest on Monday to dislodge the bandits and rescue the pupils.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello personally flagged off the operation during which he said government has now resolved to “take decisive measures to ensure the safe return of the children”.

According to Governor Bello, the operation has become necessary because the bandits had reneged on all the agreements reached with parents of the abducted pupils for the release of their wards.

“The abductors are not honest; they are not honourable. After agreeing with parents, they started shifting goal posts and now we are here to take action.

“Even though we have ruled out payment of ransom, it is time for government to take decisive measures towards ending the bandits’ activities that is forcefully changing the lives of the people especially in the rural areas.

“We have to try our possible best not to make them succeed in forcing us to change our normal lives. They started by displacing farmers from their farmlands, next, they moved to burning farms, then moved to kidnappings and forcing us to close our schools, now they have started attacking Islamic schools. Only God knows what is next,” the governor said.

He however disclosed that “most of these bandits are from outside the country, they are hired to cause problems for us. It is not the habit of the true Fulani to indulge in this kind of act”.

“These bandits are well organised and coordinated. We cannot fold our arms anymore but to take decisive and necessary steps to apprehend those involved, both the informants and the bandits,” he said.

Bello urged the federal government to collaborate with the country’s neighbours, insisting that “from all indications, these bandits are foreigners”.

He assured the troops of the state government’s readiness to take care of their welfare while the operation lasted, saying that their allowances and other logistics will be promptly met.

The governor, who had earlier met with the parents of the 156 kidnapped pupils and other stakeholders at the palace of the Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Ahmed Garba Gunna, pleaded with them to be patient as government is exploring all avenues to see to the safe rescue of their children.

The Emir of Kagara, in a brief remark, appreciated the governor for his tireless efforts towards restoring peace and security in his domain and assured him of the cooperation of his subjects.

The Headmaster of the School, Alhaji Abubakar Alhassan, confirmed to newsmen that 15 of his teachers kidnapped had escaped from their abductors in Zamfara State with four already in Kagara and 11 in military facility in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State where they will be handed over to the Niger State Government soon.