Residents of Tsafe Local Government Area in Zamfara State and Yankara area of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have demanded military actions against bandits.
According to some of the residents in the two areas, the call has become imperative, considering the rate at which bandits are terrorising them. They also said farming activities have been grounded by the ravaging hordes.
According to Muhammad Ishiaku who lives in Tsafe, they are afraid of going out as bandits have been laying siege to the areas.
Ishiaku said persistent bandits’ attacks have brought farming to its knees in the two affected areas, pointing out that farmers, travellers, and communities along the Gusau-Funtua road are no longer safe.
He further stated that residents of the areas have been forced to demand military action against persistent attacks that involved killings and kidnappings.
Another respondent, Usman Bilbis, stated that the military and other security operatives are doing their best, but bandits seem to have the upper hand.
He further stated that having a military installation in the areas can put fear in the minds of bandits.
“Nobody living along the Gusau-Funtua axis can sleep with his or her two eyes closed. Even commuters are not safe,” he said.
Ibrahim Abubakar, from Yankara, Faskari LGA, Katsina State, said that people in the area are afraid due to the recent killings of six members of the state local security outfit, Community Watch Guard, by bandits along Yankara-Faskari Road.
In recent days, bandits’ attacks became rampant along Gusau-Funtua Road, causing sleeplessness for residents and anxiety for travellers.