Agaju Madugba, Katsina
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Kano zone, Dan Bature, has visited parts of Katsina State over what may well be described as sustained attacks on communities in the area by suspected bandits and kidnappers.
The hoodlums, operating in about eight Local Government Areas of Katsina, have continued to embark on murderous activities, sacking entire villages and kidnapping a number of people in the process.
The operational visit of the AIG may not be unconnected with recent security measures to check the banditry and related activities of the hoodlums following the recent deployment of a special squad code-named ‘Operation Puff Adder‘ to the frontline Local Government Areas.
A press statement by the Police Public Relations Officer at the Katsina State police command, SP Gambo Isah, said that the AIG visited a camp currently housing Internally Displaced Persons at Sherere village of Kankara Local Government Area, located at the extreme border with Zamfara State.
According to the statement, “the AIG commiserated with the community over the unfortunate incident of Tuesday, April April 23, 2019 during which bandits in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, invaded the village, killed nine persons, kidnapped two women and set some houses ablaze.
“The AIG who was conducted round the affected areas by the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, Sanusi Buba, also visited Nuhu Primary School, Kankara, where the victims of the attack mostly women and children are taking refuge.
“The AIG assured them of their safety and promised to protect the community against any insurrection in the future.
“He later had an interactive session with the district heads of Kankara, Sarkin Pauwa Katsina, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal, and Kanwan Katsina, Alhaji Usman Bello, the head of the local government administration, Alhaji Anas Isah Kankara, and other critical stakeholders of the community.”
The local government areas described as frontline locations collectively said to be a haven for bandits and cattle rustlers, in Katsina state are, Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dan-Musa, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume, Kankara and parts of Kafur.
Parts of communities in these areas share boundaries with the Rugu forest, reported to be the equivalent of the Sambisa forest, a foremost operational base of the Boko Haram insurgent group in Borno State.
Dan-Musa, Kankara and Jibia local government areas equally share boundaries with parts of Zamfara State where banditry and other sundry crimes have virtually become routine while motorists and other road users have since abandoned a number of the roads linking communities and towns in the two states.
Meanwhile, the police command said on Thursday that it arrested two persons described as “fuel suppliers” to bandits.
According to Isah, “on 24 April, 2019, men of the Operation Sharan Daji deployed to Danmusa local government area succeeded in arresting one Bello Lawal, aged 30 yesars of Nasarawa village  and Mohammed Bature, aged 20 years a fuel pump attendant attached at Yantumaki, with 12 jerry cans fully loaded with petrol on two motorcycles heading towards the forest.
“And, on April 18, 2019, Operation Puff Adder police team while on routine patrol accosted one Haruna Ibrahim, aged 25 years  in possession of eight locally made guns displayed in his shop.
“In the course of investigations, suspect confessed to have specialised in fabricating, manufacturing and sale of locally made firearms.  Investigation is ongoing.”