By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Villagers in some of the worst insecurity infested areas of Sokoto East Senatorial District have passed a vote of confidence on the Nigerian security agencies for their commitment towards ending the menace of banditry, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes against humanity that has bedeviled their region.
The locals who prayed for a quick restoration of lasting peace in their various domains, lamented that, the insecurity situation has not only rendered most of them homeless, and poor but also left a grieving mark in their lives because of the loss of numerous loved ones.
Speaking to NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent on how the consistent prompt responses to their distress calls by the Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji has been of great relief to them, Malam Hashimu Muhammed from Gandi town of Rabah local government said, only God will reward the security agencies for risking their lives for others to be at peace.
''Honestly, we have experienced series of banditry attacks in villages of Rabah LGA. However, normalcy is gradually returning lately courtesy of the prompt responses of the Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji", Hashimu submitted.
Collaborating the position of Hashimu, Ibrahim Gatawa from Gatawa village of Sabon Birni LGA, said, the Joint Operation Hadarin Daji led by the General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 8 Division, Major General Micheal Mutkut have been laying down their lives towards restoring unhindered peace to their various settlements.
"Honestly, despite sharing land boarder with Republic of Niger, the North West Joint Operation Hadarin Daji, led by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Major General Micheal Mutkut and his various Commanders like the Garrison Commander 8 Division, Brigadier General Alex Tawasimi and others deserves not only our prayers but also accolades for always being there for us", Gatawa noted.
In Isa Local Government of Sokoto East Senatorial District that also shares boarder with Republic of Niger and Shinkafi local government in Zamfara State, Ibrahim Modaci from Bafarawa village said, they have gotten some sense of relief from the initial trauma unleashed on their respective villages and villagers by the fleeing bandits, who strike at will before.
"The Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji is restoring sanity thus given our people some sense of safety from the consistent killing, kidnapping for ransom and the rustling of their livestock by bandits who either comes from neighbouring Zamfara State or Niger Republic.
"Lately, our people from Bargaja, Kamarawa, Tidibale, Gidan Sale, Modaci, Lugu, Tozai, Gebe, Bafarawa and even Gundumi village where bandits uses the long stretch forest as their hideouts are gradually getting relieved from the onslaughts of these barbaric terrorist parading as bandits"'. Modaci noted.
In Tangaza, Gudu, Illela and Gwadabawa local government areas of Sokoto East Senatorial District, it was all rain of encomium on the Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji, as Malam Kabiru Umar of Tangaza town, appealed to the Federal Government to see the possibility of converting the Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) situated in these areas to a permanent Military Baracks.
"At least, with that, the bandits will never think of coming to disturb these villages again because they are scared of superior weapons and professional training of the Nigeria Military too", Tangaza stated. NNL.
