Adamawa State Police Pledge to End Banditry
By Segun Onibiyo
Fulani herdsmen in Adamawa State, Nigeria led police to a kidnap gang that was arrested on Sept. 30, thus removing a severe threat to citizens of the state. Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, a Fulani umbrella association in Adamawa State in collaboration with the Adamawa Police Command Operatives stationed in Girei Divisional Police Headquarters, have dismantled and arrested members of a criminal network of kidnappers who operate in parts of Girei, Tambo, and Borong Villages in Girei of Demsa Local Government Area of the state. The collaboration of the cattle breeders and the Federal Police belies the assumption by some observers who may think that bandits are tolerated by the herders’ association simply because virtually all bandit gangs are headed by men who speak the Fulani language.
Adamawa state is in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria and lies approximately 200 km from Maiduguri, Borno state capital, which shares boundary with Adamawa state. For years Adamawa state has suffered attacks on the one hand by Boko Haram terrorists and on the other hand, violent attacks by kidnapping-for ransom gangs.
“These successes are part of the state Government’s plans in collaboration with Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and the state Police’s renewed strategy under ‘Operation Farauta’ set up to ensure public order, public safety, and security for all citizens in the state, said Superintendent of Police Sulieman Yahaya Nguroje, to TruthNigeria.
“The suspects who specialize in kidnapping victims, including women, men, and children, were tracked to their hideouts after hints released by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association’s citizens watch to the police after the kidnapping of one Koire Alhaji Ruwa, a resident of the district, and a ransom of N10 million naira —approximately $11,000 — was demanded, the police superintendent said.
The fact is the herders took a proactive role in picking up the suspected leader of the kidnapping gang and bringing him to police. The suspect was apprehended by Citizens Watch of Miyetti Allah and handed to the police authorities where he confessed his role in the kidnapping. After being taken in for interrogation, he promised to cooperate with the security agents and instructed his gang members to release unconditionally the kidnapped victim.
The Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State, Afolabi Babatola, told TruthNigeria he was satisfied with the successes achieved and praised the corporation of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in helping arrest the kidnapped victim and also directed a complete crackdown on criminals who disrupt public peace.
“Citizens should emulate Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and always provide vital information to the police regarding the whereabouts of criminals, their collaborators, and their hideouts, in order to rid the state of criminal gangs before they strike,” according to Babatola.
The Police chief also assured the people of Adamawa state of the state government, under the leadership of governor Ahmadu Fintiri with cooperation of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and the Police’s continued efforts to eliminate all criminal hideouts and trouble spots in Adamawa State.
The seven kidnap suspects arrested include Kabiru Muhammed, 42 years old; Ibrahim Audu, 17 years old; Hassan Usman, 40 years old; Musa Sani, 22 years old; Bello Ibrahim, 35 years old; Abdullahi Saidu, 17 years old; Muhammed Abdu, 40 years old. All of them are residents of Tambo Village, Girei Local Government Area, and are of Fulani ethnicity.
Fulani terrorists have been terrorizing the people of the Midwest region, including Adamawa State, by engaging in arson, violence, abduction, rape, and the murder of innocent people in the area.
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‘Segun Onibiyo serves as a broadcast journalist with Procyon Radio & Television in Kaduna and provides political analysis for TruthNigeria.com.
