Outrage as Bandits Kills 17 Bauchi Villagers, Sack Inhabitants, set Houses Ablaze
By Abdullahi Idris, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has described as unfortunate and unacceptable increasing waves of bandits’ attacks, leading to the death of innocent villagers in some parts of the state and vowed to put an end to the ugly trend.
He lamented that activities of bandits in his home Local Government Area (LGA) of Alkaleri are getting out of hands, as villagers have continued to be disengaged from farming which is their ancestral occupation as a result of insecurity.
The Governor who was spoke during a sympathy visit on Thursday, the eve of Eid-el fitr celebrations, following bandits’ attack on Rimi village, where 17 people, mostly women and children, were killed and houses burnt to ashes in the community of over 300, 000 inhabitants.
One of the indigenes of Rimi village, Malam Tanko Usman told the governor that the attack was a revenge mission by the bandits whom, he said, were angered by the steps taken some months ago by traditional rulers of the village over one notorious boy in the village.
Usman said, The Fulani boy has been a notorious criminal operating alongside the bandits in the area where they have been kidnapping for ransom.
Tanko Usman narrated: “When the people got tired of his criminal activities, he was reported to the police who arrested him and taken to Alkaleri, headquarters of the local government area, but few days later he came back to the village threatening to deal with everyone for daring to report him to the police whom he claims are his friends.
Usman recalled that “not too long after the threat, one night the bandits stormed the village, set every house on fire and when people rushed out, they shot everyone on sight, and at the end of the operation which lasted several hours, 17 people were massacred, while foodstuffs were completely burnt.
Usman also stated, “As you can see, the village has been deserted and majority of the inhibitants are taking refuge in Mansur village.
Another village in Alkaleri LGA sacked by the bandits was Bagwas where a 37-year old Adamu Shehu Sa’id, “Our village has been attacked on four different occasions by bandits who maimed and killed our people. Our farmlands have been destroyed, our houses burnt to ashes, infact we have been chased out of our ancestral land and have become refuges in another land”.
Shehu added, “the bandits on the last but recent visit, killed four people and wounded several others. They always come at night when people were asleep, set houses houses on fire and force people to run for safety in order to allow them plunder our grains and other possessions”.
Malam Adamu Shehu explained that the people of Bagwas village have relocated to different places of abode namely Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states to start a new life far away from incessant attacks by bandits, and expressed delight with the visit by the governor with the hoped would change the situation for the better.
“The bandits exhausted the wealth of one man nicknamed Maikudin Sama, as he was the target each time they visited the village. When he could no longer meet their demands for money, they tried to kill him but he managed to escape and eventually left the village with his family, vowing not to come back, ” he said.
The Bagwas village residents also said that one pastor had to leave the village with his entire family after he survived attack by the bandits, lamenting that Bagwas village which had no fewer than 200,000 inhabitants has now become a ghost village.
Governor Bala Mohammed who vividly looked angered by the activities of bandits in the area, charged the residents of the area to rise-up, take up arms and defend themselves.
“You are known to be men, you should not allow these bad elements subdue you.
