Why there’s no banditry in Southwest, Ex-Minister, Shittu

Former Communications Minister under the former President Buhari’s administration, Adebayo Shittu, says the level of education in the southwest is the reason why the region has little or no record of banditry. Shittu, who disclosed this while featuring on Arise TV Morning Show, on Thursday, maintains that bandits are people rebelling due to lack of education. According to the former Minister, “Why there is no banditry in the southwest is because we chose to educate the children. “When you fail to educate people, over the years they will grow up to find out that the social inequality like some people enjoying light, some driving cars, and they are left out. This makes them start rebellion against the society. “What is happening in the Northwest and Northeast in particular is a rebellion against the neglect of the poor. “Now that we have the issue of banditry on our hands, we have over the years been spending billions of naira in kinetic approach and it’s because people left out of education and civilization that Westernization brings about are rebelling.” Shittu had advised the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to give bandits a promising future by negotiating with them, stressing that most of the bandits are able-bodied men who the Federal Government should retain. The former Minister also added that a non-kinetic approach in dealing with banditry would bring about a lot of results.

Military taskforce apprehends 39 suspects linked to Plateau attacks, banditry

Over the course of one week, troops from Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the military taskforce responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States, have apprehended 39 suspects involved in cases of banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. According to Captain James Oya, the Media Officer of OPSH, the arrests took place between August 14 and August 21 in various locations. The troops, during their operations, successfully recovered illicit drugs, arms, and ammunition from the suspects. Among the detained individuals, two were long-sought individuals connected to multiple armed robberies and kidnappings. The recovered items included an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action Magnum gun, an AK-47 magazine, 14 rounds of 7.62mm “special” ammunition, and a mobile phone. One of the arrested suspects was identified as both a kidnapper and an arms dealer, apprehended in Kuba village within the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau. Additionally, two members of the militia group responsible for an attack that led to the death of 21 individuals in Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau on August 10 were also among the detainees. These individuals were found to be in possession of two AK-47 rifles, seven fabricated rifles, and four pump-action cartridges. A drug syndicate operating in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau was also targeted in a sting operation, leading to the arrest of seven drug peddlers and the confiscation of a significant amount of drugs. The troops also addressed issues related to grazing, impounding 307 cows that were grazing on farmlands owned by locals in the Kubat and Mabel communities of Mangu and Bokkos local government areas, respectively. During the same time frame, the taskforce responded to 37 distress calls, successfully rescuing 17 kidnap victims. It also thwarted numerous attempts of cattle rustling and repelled attacks on vulnerable communities, with a focus on areas such as Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom in Plateau. Captain Oya reiterated OPSH’s dedication to reinstating sustainable peace across all parts of Plateau. He assured that the operation’s officers and personnel would remain swift in their response to threats against the safety and property of citizens. The ongoing efforts of OPSH underscore the commitment of the military to curbing criminal activities, ensuring the safety of residents, and fostering a more secure environment within the region.