According to a report by the Leadership Sunday, over 100 communities in Zamfara and scores of others in Katsina are being controlled by the bandits.
A source in Faskari council of Katsina State alleged that about 32 communities have been abandoned due to relentless attacks by the bandits.
He named the communities as Ungwan Dorowa, Ungwan Bika, Gidan Wakili, Kogon Kura, Gidan Saidu, Migyadali and Shuwaki, among others.
The military and other security agencies have being conducting massive operations against the bandits, recording huge successes recently, including the killing of top bandits’ leaders and arrest of several others.
Findings in Zamfara, however, showed that many communities across 14 local government areas of the state are still under the control of bandits, but it was acknowledged that the military onslaught has led to drastic reduction in attacks on communities.
The bandits have been reported to have adopted guerilla tactics to evade the military as they continue to hold sway in the over 100 communities across Zamfara.
Already, some of the villagers have been forced to flee to urban areas while those who chose to stay behind live under the dictates of the criminals.
Leadership gathered that the most harassed villages were in Maru, Anka, Shinkafi, Maradun, Zurmi, Gusau and Bungudu local government areas.
In Zurmi council, the villages allegedly under control of the bandits are Gidan Kabbo, Tsakauna, Dogon-hako, Gidan duwan, Jididi, Asako, Gidan-Oho, Dunnu, Gwamawa, Gidan Labbobuzu, Marmaro, Takalmawa, Tukurawa, Sangamawa, Tataka, Gidan-Galadima, Gidan-Zago, Kadamutsa, Holuwa, Makosa, Judidi, Geza, Rinni and Dadan.
In Tsafe local government area, the affected villages are Munhaye, Dustin Kura, Kekawa, Yarzaiga, Sabon Birnin Nakak, Unguwar Gyauro, Matso-Matso, Magazawa, Kawasaki, Bare-Bari, Turba-Kuceheri, Marne, Maidagalo, Yar-tsakuwa, Garkuwan, Kofar Fasa, Sansami and Dankutau.
In Maru LGA, the villages under bandits’ control are Madada, Bingi, Dandalla, Babbar Doka, Kabaro, Sangeku, Danmani, Kunjemi, Karauci, Gajeran Kauye, Saulawa, Randa, Kango, Balge, Gobirawan Cali, Gidan Ardo, Bulakke and Kilin,
In Anka council, the embattled villages are Rafin Sanya, Barayar Zaki, Rafin Gero, Karfa, Bawar Daji, Sunka, Tungar Kudaku, Matseri, Dankalgo, Matsafa, Nassarawa and Kawaye.
In Maradun LGA, the communities are Aljimma, Gwargawo, Kuzi, Ruwan Bado, Magamin Diddi, Gareka, Saurar Kade, Damage, Asarara, Burmi Gidan Adamu, Gidan Maidawa, Gidan Baushi, and Wari.
In Talata Mafara council, Ruwan Jema, Ruwan Gora, Dankalgo, and Ruwan Gizi suffer the same fate.
In Gusau LGA, the villages under the control of bandits include Madaro, Kungurmi, Dandindin, Burwaye, Burnai, Fankarfe, Dadin Zama, Bakin Dutse, Tungar Kudi, Ruwan Mesa, Koli, Buzaye, Lilo, Tungar Rakumi, Rijiya, and Kwarya Tsugune.
In Birnin Magaji council, the villages are Madomawa, Nasarawa Mailayi, Dan’Ali, Birnin Tsaba, among others.
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on media and publicity, Mustapha Jafaru, said Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration was determined to changing the narrative by restoring total peace to the state.
The aide said the governor had made adequate arrangements with security agents to check the excesses of the bandits and to rescue the villages from their control.
He said the administration of Governor Lawal had no plan to reconcile or negotiate with the bandits.
“The state government will squarely face them and deal with them so that security will be restored by the grace of Allah,” Kaura said.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Yazeed Abubakar, said the police in collaboration with other security agents were doing everything humanly possible to liberate all areas suspected to be under bandits’ control.
The spokesperson of 1 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army (OPHD), Gusau, Lieutenant Sulaiman Omale, said he would not comment on any issue with regard to security because he was not directed to speak.
In Katsina State, the areas under bandits’ activities are Faskari, Sabuwa, Safana, Kankara, Dutsin-ma, Danmusa, Jibia, Batsari, Kurfi, Malumfashi and Dandume.
In Faskari, some communities such as Kadisau, Fankama, and Sabon Layin Galadima have resorted to negotiating with the bandits and paying levies to access their farms.
Others such as Jarkuka, Ungwan Sakkai and Kampani have remained under constant threat.
In Batsari LGA, communities such as Batsari Anabi, Garin Yara and Dan Kwalaso face similar challenges.
In Kankara council, Fanwa and Mabai are high-risk areas while Marke, Domawa, Maidabino and Dan Ali in Danmusa local government are identified as dangerous communities under bandit attacks.
A senior government official who sought anonymity asserted that the crime rate had significantly decreased following the deployment of additional security personnel in the region.
The Katsina State Police Command spokesman, Sadiq Abubakar, said significant progress was being made in combating banditry in the state since the directive issued by the commander-in-chief, President Bola Tinubu for an all out offensive against criminals in the North West.
Abubakar added that the command had neutralised and arrested several bandits, rescued many kidnapped victims and recovered weapons and ammunition.