One of the notorious bandits terrorising the Northwest, Kachalla Turji, has let loose his gang on several villages in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. 

Turji was said to have accused the villagers of giving information that led to his father’s arrest.

His father was reportedly picked up about two weeks ago in Kano state by security operatives, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

At the last count yesterday, the gang had abducted up to 150 villagers.

Aside from sacking the villages, the bandits also reportedly abducted many travellers along Gusau-Sokoto Road.

It was gathered that the bandits’ leader vowed that if his father would be stopped from performing the upcoming Sallah at home, he would also ensure that many other people spend the period without their families.

The latest attack on villages is coming months after Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi met with Turji.

Turji had during the meeting lamented that Fulani were being singled out, impoverished and beaten on the road by indigenes of Zamfara.

He added that without reconciliation, there was no way the problem would end, adding that only God knows how many weapons they had and what they could do if they wanted to destabilise the state.

The top commander of the bandits added that they were not afraid to die and that even if he died, hundreds of people were available to take over leadership from him.

What you should know

Zamfara, like other North-West states, has in the last 10 years faced devastating attacks from armed bandits.

A committee set up to investigate the menace of armed banditry in the region, headed by Mohammed Abubakar, a former Inspector General of Police, reported that in Zamfara State between June 2011 and May 2019, 4,983 women were widowed; 25,050 children were orphaned; and more than 190,000 people were displaced as a result of banditry.