A group of professionals within the local government called the “Gobir Development Association,” has revealed that the community in Sabon Birmi local government area of Sokoto has paid over N160 billion in levies and ransom payments to bandits.
According to a press statement signed by the chairman of the group, Idris Gatawa, and its secretary, Professor Aliyu Gobir, more than two billion naira was also lost to armed bandits.
The group also condemned the recent killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, who was abducted and murdered by bandits after his official engagement in the state capital.
The group said, “Over sixty billion naira has been paid as ransom, over a hundred billion naira paid as imposed levies by the bandits, and more than two billion naira lost to armed
bandits.
“Likewise, about six hundred thousand heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years.
“About two-thirds of the arable farmlands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances”.
ALSO READ: Ekiti govt denies awarding N1.1bn contracts to permanent secretaries, others
They however appeal to the Government at all levels to act swiftly to stop the killings, kidnapping, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to restore peace and stability in all areas affected by banditry
“We call on the government to act as follows: place more security checkpoints at strategic locations along Goronyo-Sabon Birni (Doron Sule, kwanar Maharba, Tsululu) and Sabon Birni-Isa (Kwanar Dankarmawa, Danmaliki etc) roads.
“Provide humanitarian and emergency support to the affected communities to alleviate their suffering due to banditry and complete Sabon Birni-Tsululu/Kwanar Kouya Road to revive the crippled economic activities of the region”
While calling on the government to Investigate the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and subsequent murder of
“Sarkin Gobir”, the group equally demanded the arrest of criminal culprits that killed him.
It also called for drastic measures to ensure the release of all victims from the hands of bandits, while calling on the good people of Sabon Birni Local Government to be law-abiding citizens and join hands with the government to fish out bad eggs from the community.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE